1 SELECT
I Cafes of Confcience 1
I Toughing
tFfctchesandFFitcbfftfii. I
1 By Iohn GavlEj Preacher
| ofthe Word at Great Staugbm
in the County of Huntington*
J| Deati8. 10,11,12.
m There {hall not be found ammg \
»*any one that maketh his Sen or )
| Daughter to patfe threugh the fire ,.'
that ufeth Divination, or anobferver of
Times, or an Enchanter, or a Witch*
Or a Charmer, or a Confiilter' wiih
familiar Spirits, or a Wizard, or a Ne-
cromancer-
For alltthat d$ thefe things Are an Abo-
mination mt o the Lord i and becaufe of
thefe Abominations, the Lord thy Q 0 d
dath drive thexp. out from before thee.
o ■
London* Printed by IK mijon fo,
Richard Clut^rbuck? and are tc be fold
athisHQufeln Nobleftreet. ^646.
May 29. 1646.
T Have with much fatisfa&i-
*on and content perufed this
learned & judicious difcourfe^
intituled £Sele£t Cafes of Con-
fcience concerning Witches
and Witchcrafts.*] And fin-
ding it to bee very folide and
featonable r I allow it to bee
Printed and publifhed.
Join Down ame.
A-A£rAAA A A >4 A A- A
To his ever honoured
Valentine VVauton Efquire,
Colonell 5 and one of the Hono-
rable Houfe of Commons. As alfo
to the other worthy Gentlemen ; together
with all the good people of the Parifh
of Great Staughton in the County
of Huntington*
SlR 3
>U here fee 3 what the
the reft of the Parifh
heard 5 under one
rnoneths occafionall paines in
P^ce. I am forced to make
ltpublique, partly bcamfe I
fviffered fome oppofition & af-
front in my preaching 5 from
A 2 oks
Tbe&fiflleTedicamj.
©ne I never faw before 5 and
partly becaufe fome opinions
ofitarefpread fince 5 by and a-
mongthofe that know me not.
But chiefelyto anfwer the ex-
pectation of thofe amongft
whom I am knowne. I hope
(what I here tender you) will
fpeake theTrueth of an honeft
Confcience to the World 5 the
Affeftion of a carefull Paftor
to the reft 5 and to you Sir ! the
gratefull (becaufe much inga-
ged)mindof
YoUr humble Servant,
John Gaule.
To
Iudicious Reader*
here with a Letter ; on
upon it. Thou mayeft eafily , reade
him, in his Letter, and naee, in ray
Booke.
to fearch forevill difpofed pcrfons called
Witches (thoiTgh I heare your Minifteris
farre againft us through ignorance) I in-
tend to come ( God willing ) the fooner to
heare his lingular Judgment on the behalfe
of fuch parties * I have known a Miuifter in
Suffolke preach as much againft their dif-
covery in a Pulpit, andforc'd to recant k
(by ffie Committee^ in the fame place. I
Reader !
occafion of this publifhing.
It were but loft labour to glofle
M.2V.
much
To the Reader,
much marvaUe fuch evill Members fhquk!
have any ( much more any of the Clergy.)
who fbould daily preach Terronr ro con-
vince fuch Offenders , ftand up ro rake
their parrs againft fuch as are Complai-
nants for rhe King 5 and fufferers them-
felves with rheir Families and Efrares- I
inrend ro give your Towne a Vif re fuol*
denly 5 I am ro come ro Kimbohon this
weeke, and irfhall beerenne ro one bur I
wHI come ro your Town firft , bur I would
certainely know afore wherher your Town
affords many Sticklers for fuch Carrel! 5 or
willing ro give and afTord us good welcome
and enterrainement > as other where I have
beenej elfe I fhall wave your Shire (not
as yet beginning in any parr of it my felfe)
Andbetakeme ro fuch places where I doe
and may perfift without conrrole , but with
thafikes and recompence So I humbly
take my leave and reft.
Your Servant to be commanded;,
Matthew Hofkjns.
The
The Contents,,
i Cafe.
\Hether it ought to bee
bekevedy that there
are any Witches ?
2. How many kjnds of Witches may
there be conceived?
3- JVI)ether there bee not fundry de-
grees of Witches^ andWitchcrafts to be
considered ?
4. What it k that ma^es a Witch to
be a Witch ; and one that may )uftly bee
fo called and accounted ?
5 . Wba*are tbeftgnes and marks of
a Witch) whereby fuel) an one may bee
rightly difcernedy andfo Cenfured ?
6. Whether Witcb-feekjng or witch-
finding be an ArtyVecationyProfeffion^
Office , Occupation 5 or Trade efLife^
allowable in 4 Chriftian Chunk , 01
*******
T
The Contents.
^Whether all fucb Feats, trices,
franhgSyand Exploits, m Witches are
[aid toplayjbe credible tefrudent Cbri-
ftians?
8. Whether the power of a Witch bee
fuch, as is ordinarily fuppofed >
9. How the power and malice of Wit'
cbes may beprevented,or redreffed with
tgoodfinfcience ?
10. Whether it be lawfull to confult
with a Witch upon any occafion ?
11. What punifhment are Witches ^
worthy of \ or may juftly be inflicled on I
them?
12. Whether a Witch may repent, j
mdfobefavedi j
Selcft
it
SELECT
Cafes of Confcicncc
w touching Witches
§ and Witchcrafts.
* i. Cm Whether it ought to be be*
* Isevedjbat there are any Witches?
[Ee that will needs
perfwade himfelf
that there areno
Witches., would
asfaine be perfwaded., that
there is no DevilH and hee
that can already beleeve that
there is noPevill 5 will ere
B long
2 Cafes ef Confchnee
long beleeve that there isno
God. For there are much
what the fame grounds or
motives both for theAtheift
and the Adiabolift. Both* are
erroursandevills illuing^ot
only from a fond prefuming
folly , but alfo from a car-
nail difpenfing fecurity.Pfal.
J4' i« And therefore when I
confiderthat opinion of the '
^adduces, Adts 23.8.I cannot
but wonder at the received f
gMdforit. Whoarefaid !
todettyailthereci^onely j
^r th^end^ that fo they
"»ght ferve <3od more fin- !
S T ? , a ^ a f <>r himfelfes
bk ?*ng hirii even for
Went beeing 5 and not
doing
Concerning Witches , &c 3
* doing his wil ? out of any expe-
^ pefitation of a futiire reward
01 Whereas our late leaners and
% lingerers after fuch a kinde of
$ fed, could be content to deny
}i all thefe 5 meerly for this intent
that fo they might ferve them-
f felves wholly ? fin more gree-
il dily 5 live now more fecurely ?
1! arid feare no future penalty;
he But as doating fleepes or
ot dreams, awaken to greater di-
?d ftraftions : fo doefalfe opini-
id ohs 5 to the more fearfull Con-"
I vichons 5 Efpecially all fond
I perfwafions touching God or
1- > the Divel (if not other wife re-
i canted) are confuted by their
f own fad expedience at the la ft.
t And (astbthepdintin hand)
[ B 2 I could
4 . Cafes of Cenfciemc
I could inftance from Story
(but that I refblve again ft all
fuch dilatations in this Epi-
tome) how many have had no
faith of witches being, til they
have had a fenfeof them, anci
then their bewitched body op
goods , has ferved to unbe-
witch them of their opinion 6i
Conceit But there are alfoa
feet or fort, that (on the other
«and) are as fuperftitious in
thispoint, as thefecanbeinfi-
eehous. They conclude pe-
remptorily (notfrom reafon,
tmtmdifcretion) that witches
notonlyare, but arein every
Place, and Parilh with them,
jvery old woman with a Wrin!
ry
Concerning Witches^ &c 5
ry lip, a gobber tooth, a (quint
eye ? a fqueaking voyce , or a
fcolding tongue., having a rug-
ged coate on her back, a fkull-
cap on her head , a fpindlein
her hand, and a Dog or Gat by
her fide 5 is not onfr fufpeftcd,
but pronounced tor a witch.
Every new difeafe, notable ac-
cident, mirable of nature, rari.
or juft judgment of God} is by
them accounted for no other,
but an aft or effeft of witch-
craft. And for this the Witch
niuft bee fufpe&ed : and this
fuipition , though it bee but
late., of a few . and thole the
under fort 5 yet is it enough to
imd for the Witeh-fearcher^
6 Cafes of Confidence
orwitch-feekers ( a trade ne-
ver taken up m England till
this ) whofe lucratory fkil and
Experience is not much im-
proved above the outward I
fenfes. For if you will not
admit a big 5 or a boyl $ a wart , ■]
or a wen 5 a pufh 9 or a pile 5 a 3
fear, era fcabbe^ aniflue, or
an ulcer $ for a pal pable Wit-
ches marke ; vet then fhail it I
certainly be determined to be ]
infucha place, as for feme,
and in very truth , is not to be j
named. But tofavethe trou-
Weand Charges of the witch- f
nnder, they will undertake to
try the Witch of themfelves,
y« by no other rules then
thole traditionall, and of their
own
Concerning Whcha^&c 7
omluperftbion. Nay -and (I
tfembteto record it) they will
haVer*he Avkch prefently pu-
fiifhed, and the ifludthereox
{hall prove no lefle then capi-
tal! y and yet by no-Law f : but
chft of their ; own Lawlefie fu-
rv. Now ofthefetwc* forts, I
hold thelaft not only the more
numerous, but the more dan-
gerous of thetwo. Not. that!
thinke there is charity in the
one opinion, as I am fare there
is iniquity in the other. But
for as much as the fuperftition
of the one, isonemainecaufe
of the others Infidelity. Fori
have known the fimpler mea-
ning therefore backeward to
beleeve any are thus guilty t>
B 4
j Cafes of Cwfcience
while they have obferved. die
ruder conditioned ib oveifor,
ward to pronounce upon the
innocent : yea and fome wife
inen too, haveput it to a great
diipute, becaufc they have
read (as appears in ftory) that
»en of the mofteminent wif-
dome and holinefle of their
tjmeshave (by fuch people a5
r hefe; been i Jandered for Wit-
«he S Icouldgiveinftancein
wdetobebeLeved^nthatour
JgOj mm hin'felfe, &
a t f ^ ed not ft blalphe-
^".H-Ctabhorto^eake
what
Cmcermng ifluh^ #£• 9
what like Imputation of fame
in after Ages) but alfo fore-
told that hischiefeft fervants
fhould bee (laundered in like
manner.Mat. 1 o. 2 5-But what?
did Ghrift therefore deny that
there were any Witches ? nay
Iiee rather confefles it fordi-
ftinaion fake, Matt.i2;27 5 28;
And verily no abufe of men
(cither on one fide or other)
romft debarre from concluding
of Truth. I therfore (in a plain
and full way) deteiinine here r
as doe the ort hodox 3 viz.
That as there have been ^ fo
ther are^&wil be witches unto
the worlds end. When Witch-
es firft were in the world > is
iiBcatai%before fhtrwhs Ma^
E $ gttians^
to Cafes of Conf tience
gitians; we read Iofeph talking
(likeanJEgyptian) of divina-
tion. Gen. 44. 5.15. (which he
fpake certainly not to bewray
hisProfeffion, but conceal his
Perfon.) Old Authors relate
that Cham was the firfc Witch
(who among the Gentiles was
called Zoroafter ) and that hee
taught this divellifh Art to his
fon Mtzraim^nd he to the JE-
gyptians his People 5 and they
*hat their learning to the
world. Some fay D the Di veil
wasthefirll Witch when hee
plaid the Importer with our
hrft Parents , poffeffing the
^pent(ashisImpe)totheir
delufionGen.3.anditiswhif.
P»ed that our Grandame Eve
was
Concerning Witches > &c. i 1
was d little guilty of fach a
kind of Society , inafmuch as
fuch an Enmity was immedi-
ately denounced upon it. But
no matter whether Witches &
Witchcrafts began with the
world or no ^ we are too fiire
they are not like to end 5 but
with the world \ i Tim.4. 1 . And
fpeaking of the world & Wit-
ches D I take roome enough to
determine their Exiftenee. For
haply in fome Places , and at
fome purer Times of the
Churchy Witch may not then
and there be found 3 Deut. 18.
10* Micah 5.12. Zach.i 3.2. at
lekft wife comparatively not
in tho£e Multitudes^ or Multi-
plicities, And thus explained
my
12 Safes of Canfcience
my determination ftands firm
to any mans beliefe for thefe
Reafons following.
i. Becaufe the holy Scrip-
tures fpeake of Witch-craft as
of a fpecifiqiiefin J iSam. I 5.33..
Gal. 5 20.N0W no accident can
iubfift without a Pofition or
5>cmceffion of its proper fub-
jeitinwhomitmuft ofnecef-
faty inhere,2.The word of God
Jifcoversand defcribes them
it he,r i everaI1 names, Dent.
m 10. Now names arenot gi-
ven tothmgs that are not: nay
l^T^ f names ferve »
note th«t Multitude in the
and
Concerning Witch h&c* 13
and Penalties 'agairift them^
Exo. 22.18. Lev. 20.27. which
were not inftitutedfor 3 nor can
be executed upon fhadowes 8c
meer nothing. 4. It is carefully
forbiddai to feeke after f\xch y
Levit.19.31. which how vainc
were it if none fuch were to bq
found ? Becaufe though indi-
vidual! afts may perilh with
the Authors 5 yet never any
fpecifique fin (once here)quite
vanifted hence ; but (through
the common roote or Corrup-
tion)was propagated to all A-
ges. 6. Becaufe the Devill
(through his depraved know-
ledge) hath deviled perpetual!
Rules of Witch-crafts 5 fuch
ashepotoiily fuggeffe immew
tliately
14 Cafes of Conscience
diately and occasionally g but
hath delivered them to-impif
ous wretches , to be traditio-
nally taught and communica-
ted from one Generation to a-
nother.7. Becaufe the Divell
labours continually to uphold
thevifibilityand eminencyof
Wskingdome, which he doth
in and by , none more then
Juchas thefe. 8. Even Heathen
by thelight of Nature , have
allertcdfuchto be.-nayand by
the Law of Nature, convin-
ced themtobe fuch, 9. The o~
Pmion and judgement of fo
many learned men in all pro-
feffions. (Philofophers, Hifto-
n|ins iL awyer % Phyfitians, Di
vines, Schoolmen^ Summifts.
Cafuifts,
Concerning ffitches,&t- *9
Cafaifts, Rings and Princes)
that have fliown fo much Art
and induftry, in their dement
fixation and difcovery. icThe
obfervation, Traditio% cdti*
feffion y pra&ife and experi-
ment hereof (in all Ages, and
among all Nations) is more
then manifeft.
- The Generall.thus confir-
med, let me alfo adde a touch
upon thefe particulars. i.That
Witches have been more fre-
quent in fome Ages of the
World, then others, namely,
the more blind, difiolute, pa-
ganifli. Idolatrous, fuperftiti-
ous. 2. That Witches have al-
ways abounded in fome coafts
of the World 3 more then ou-
tliers
l£ CtftsofCdnfcknce.
thers$ as namely, where the
Goipell is not| where it is not
fo plain , pure, and power-
iulljand where Witch-craft is
inacfe either their Religioner
their Trade. 3. That Witches
are to be found in fome Reli-
gions, more then others, that
is to fay,not only wher witch-
craft it felfe is counted a R eli-
gion $ but where Religion it
m is fuperftitious , an d fo
dilpofing to Witch-craft. 4.
That therehas been, are, and
«je hkely ftill to bee , more
WMches under the Popilh 5
then m the Proteftant Reli-
S 5 ^ ^ (many
ohh ^)^vebeeflnotoriouV
Witches t
■ Concerning Witches, &c. * 7
L$ Witches: but their prcftigious
J* miracles, 8t fuperftitious rites
5* little better then kindes of
J* Witch-crafts.
I Now though I find it eafier
f W to determine of Witches, that
melt t | ie y arejthen to difeover what
M they are, yetlmayaveocca*
1! - lion to apprehend fomethhig
} *U to that purpofe^ from this one
pom Elaine conclufion 5 viz* That
Jfld t Witch-craft^or the fin ofWit*
liu ehes, is .the moft great &gric*
; 4 yms y the moft deadly & dam*
10 nable fin ? that a mortall maa
jftj may be guilty of. I conceive it
A fecorid to none that can pofli-
«$ bly here be committed ^ and
5 y myReafons are^
i i. Eecaufe it is cafiedana-
; bomi-
to Cafes of Confcicnc;
bomination unto the Lord
Deut. i8. i2. which is never
fed but of thofe Impieties
that are of all other
crable.
,vJ'u C v m&:i]] ofh « fins and
^fobediences 5a rebutcorn P a.
red to this for hainoufneffe
i 6am. t 5 . 23 . Now the thing
compared is alvvaies inferior
^attowhichitiscompa.
t&£ £ff fe Witch-craft in
2^#. ca ^dbythenatr,e
IKS*
gteateftevrilthatcanbedone.
^-llS itisth J em ° ftma -
s and immediate aver-
fion
Concerning Witches, &c. 1 9
fion from the greateft Good ;
and the moft malicious and
immediate^ converfion to the
greateft Evill. For here is God
Renounced and defied 5 an d
the Divell embraced and ado-
Ted, ifft >j ' w riuxMrii s[ \
5.Becaufe rio fin upon earth
fo tempts God ? as Witch-craft
doth. Next to the Divells im-
pudent tempting ©f Ghiift %
was Balaams importimate
tempting of God. It even
tempts the Divell to tempt
God. For little or nothing cari
the Divell doe for the Witch
by a Leaguer Commiffion^but
as hee is faine to tempt Gods
Permiffion at every turn. Elfe
Satan had not craved a fecond
power
£© Cafes »f Ctnjiience
.power againft/oA; after a con,
reffioiH>ftherirft.
6. Becaufe it is the moft ah.
honed of all thofefins, which
wecal the fins againft Nature.
Not onely in regard of that
horrid dlufion of an Tncubus ;
butalfoin refpe&of common
locietyj forasitismoftnatu-
xallfor man to be fociable, fo
tt'smofr^natnrajl ro him tn
|Mate himfelfe contra ry to
hs kmde And fo much the
tt orem t h Ks inthat kisa .
gihw cnlya naturally ari-
^, bm a divinely impofed
fo!S %>Gen -3.i5. iCor.
U31 ^°PPofitetoChriftnot
only
Concerninginiche^&c* 2t
only in his Works 0 but in his
Perfbn ; for as Chrift is a God
incarnate : fo is a Witch ( as it
were) a Divell incarnate. Ida
not fay 5 a Witch is the Ahtk
thrifty but I am fure 3 the Antk
chrift muft needs be a Wittb,;
a TheC2«8«93io 5 i i .
8. Beeaufe the blafphcmy
againft the holy Ghoft, is
grounded upon an imputati-
on of Witch-craft, Matth.i2,
24, 3 1 . And the fin it felfe ap-
peared (by direft literall dedu-
ction) to be a malicious impu-
tation of the works of the De-
vill to God I and of the works
of God to the Devill : which
who are fo guilty of as are
Witches, that make God their
Divell
22 Cafes ofConfcience
Divell 5 and theDivdkheir
God? as is evident to be obfer*
ved,in their folemn and expli,
cite pad or League. Neither
do I know^ny one particular
% to which the expreffion of
thfelin ^^%inft the holy Ghdft
in Scriptures^with the proper-
ties that Divines make there-
©f 5 xmyhtmbm ptly & p?e-
c^Felyapplyed, then to this fin
of Witch-craft.
2. Cafe. Howmany kindes of Witch-
■ esmaf there betonceived ? •
p± Right beliefb of Witches
A-iv^ 1 - bee without Tome
ffW^ conception of thetf
kmfc My Scripture : ( to fet
torth their feverall kincK^
U P '8. feverall naifres
of
Concerning Jfitcks 0 &c* 2 3
of t]aem at onGafMltvS^ib.i jft
°^ Sorne • fay : nine making the
firft paraphraf&all defcripti-
•V on ( that of caufing the fonne
: ^ or the daughter to pafld thx^-
prc| row the fire) tobee b e^tkitie
olfd fpecies of Witch-craft : which
leprof I conceive rather to be agehe-
ie k rail or Rite y of corneal
v ftp ting or devoting thehifelves 8e
M theirs to the Di veils ferviae 5
anfwerable to that which wee
0 coiihmonly call the Witches
Covenant, Compa^or Gdn-
j>0 federation Witlv the E%ell
0 Becaufe it is ftiil fct ^Ml
ti !^ofe °thev particular A&s, as
p^eparaeidri or f difpdfitM' |i
them,Le?v.bd9 3 B^ Ki%sf;6i
to
i
0
/ ' Ail
24 C4\e$tfC<mfticmc
All the reft of the Words 5 or
Names (were knot that ple-
nary Enumerations cannot be
without diftinftions ) are fo
promifcuoufly u(ed 3 variou%
tjanflated , and indifferently
interpreted y that it is hard tti
obfervc any fpecifique differ
rmce between them. Give me
leave to ghefle at them as di-
ftin&lyaslrnay. i. Wee thus
tranflatethefirft, One that u*
feth divination. But the He-
brew fpeakes fomewhat more
Emphatically 5 One divining
divfoations.To fhew,that fuch
his xUvimtions were of his
own divining % or deviling 5
whoprefumed 9 or undertook
toteadipr tell of things con-
tingait
Concerning Witches^ &c. 2 %
I tingent and fortuitous ^ whe-
h ther future 3 or abfent; and
* what hereafter might happen
) & to luch a perfon, fuch a State 5
II And fuch a one I may not a-
fan mifle call the Gipfie, orfbr-
ioi tune-telling Witch. % An
e| Obferver of Times. The Ra-
dicall derivation of this Word
mi or Name is thought fo va-
gjj rious^ that I know not well
t | lt how to determine here, what
]e J kinde of Witch. Some con-
ceive it from an Hebrew root
^thatfignifiestoanfwer, being
^interrogated indubious mat-
,fj ters h and fo I may fay it is the
I Oracle Witch. Some from
^ caftmg a mift before the eyes,
tfJ and then is it the jugling or
d C pr^fti-
2 6 Cafes ofConfcience
praeftigious WitcLSome from
a word of the Clouds , then is
it the Aftrologian, Starre-ga-
zing 5 Planetary,' Prognoftica-
ting Witch.Some from a word
that notes a Time,and that de- ,
ftinate or determinate to fuch
a purpofe, as lucky, or unluc-
ky 5 then is it the fuperftitious
feafdh-fearching, or (if you
will)theTime*ferving Witch,
5. An Enchanter, or a chaun-
ting Witch, ufingtothatpur-
pote certaine Odes, Songs,
Verfes,Tones, Numbers, and
may fignifie either the Can-
ting or Calculating Witch.But ,
there is a word of fuller and ,
nearer found to the original!, ?
that fignifies the Serpent : B )
b
ffl!
u
f$
hi
if
on
i
o
Concerning Witches > 6*c* 27
may it bee the Serpentine #
the venefick or Poyfonous
Witch. 4. Or a Witch. The
Origitiall Word is ufed fo
promifcuoufly , for all man-
ner of Witches^that makes our
Tranflators to render it in the
common Englifh word onely.
Yet doth it more narrowly
import, fuch a kind of Witch
that works partly after a poy-
fonous, partlyinapraftigious
way. 5, A Charmer,and that
is an Exorcift or conjuring
Witch .- But the Hebrew ex-
prefles it thus 5 one joyntng So-
ciety, viz. either with the De-
toIL or with other Witches :
andfoit is theaflembling or
the affociating Witch. 6. A
C 2 Con-
$% Cafes -of Confcience
Confulter with Familiar Spi-
rits. The Hebrew intimates,
one that parried the Spirit in
a Bottle, a Bag, a Pitcher, and
fo kept it a$ a familiar 5 or ra-
ther whofe Bdly heaved, and
fwelled , and founded like a
Bottle, whence the Devili
fpake or replyed : and thus is
it the Gaftromanticke , the
Ventriloquift • or if you will,
the Bottle-bellyed Witch.7. A
Wizzard, or Sciolift 3 [ that is
the Magical!, Speculative^
Scientiall , or Arted Witch.
8. A Negromancer 5 that is
one that fought to the Dead,
and confulted them 3 to
know what fhould become of
the Living, Or, that haun-
Concerning Witches^ &c 29
ted Craves and Sepulchers, a»
well praedigioufly to raife the
dead,as to be praftigioufly re *
fol ved bythem. You may ca
fuch an one, the Mortal or the
deadly Witch.
To all thefe Names, more
then ten times might be added
from other languages \ ex-
preffing the fevernii forts of
Witches and Witchcrafts 3 ei-
ther from their Nature, \x%
power,, pra&ice 3 niatter 3 foi m 3
end, author 5 meane?, iriftra-
ment,or effeft. Kut (because
I labour all I may to bring the
whole bufinefs to a Ereviate) I
fhall onely treat of fuch kinde;
of forts of them, wherein the*
are more univerfally both
C 3 com-
50 €afes of Con fa tnce
eomprized and dutinguifhed
i. According to the vulgar
conceit, diftin&ion is ufually
made betwixt the White and
the Blacke Witch / the Good,
and the Bad Witch. The Bad
Witch , they are wont to call
him or her, that works Male-
ficeor xMifchiefeto the Bodies
of Men or Beafts ; The good
Witch they count him or her,
that helps to reveale, prevent,
or remove the fame. But fuch
confidernot, that devils(with
as certaine a Science and as
fafe a Confcience ) may be di-
ftmguifhed into Good, and
Bad, as Witches. Rather.that
the accounted Good Witch,is
indeed the worfe and more
wicked
Concerning Witches>&c. 3 1
1 wicked of the two. ForasSa-
I tan, being a Fiend of darkncs,
I isthenworft when hee trani-
3 formes himfelfe into an An*
I gel of Light fo likewife are
I his Minifters. Now both
I thefe working by the Devill 3
I . whereas the worft hurt that
I the one does 5 proves but to be-
p witch the Eody > or outward
| .' man: thebeft helpe that the
al other can doe ? tend s and turn s
jgj to bewitch the inner man or
I Soule. In as much as it begets
| j, in the party to be thus holpen;
r | either a Petition, oratleaftan
j inquifition : either a perfwafi--
on D or at leaft an expectation 5
I which is a faith or a (lent of the
^ fame nature that the Witch
I ttep • C 4 now
i
*>2 - Cafes of Conference
5
now workesby. Notwithftan-
ding all this it is obje&d^that
the Good Witch does gocd 5 &
oppofesthe Bad Witch, and
theDevill, and therefore cer-
tainly can be none of his, nor
have any dealings with him.
For if Satan caft out Satan,
he is divided againft him&Ife,
how fball then his Kingdome
fland?Matth.i2.26. Are not
thefe now thepatrons of Wit-
ches themfblves that can make
Scripture plead for them ? To
whofe misapplying it is thus
*eplyed: That if Satan Ihould
cait out Satan fpiritually, or
out of thefoule, here were a
Jvifion indeed, and now his
^ngdome could in no wife
ftand ;
Cmmning Witches
I
X
ftand : But for Satan to caft
out Satan corporally 0 or out
of the Body onely 5 this may
be done by a combination^and
fo his Kingdome may grow
the more. For thus he agrees,
and willingly yeelds to his
owne Children and Infcru-
ments to be ( even by them
ejected out of the Body : that
foby the faith ( both of the
doer and receiver) he may the
more eafily be admitted into
the Soule.
% Witches may univerfal-
ly be thus diftinguiihed into
either the Arted or the Pa&ed
Witch. The Arted Witch, or
one onely fpeculative upon
the abftrufe Mirables of Na~
C 5
tare:
24 Cafes of Conscience
ture : who by fearching into
her occult Qualifies, her hid-
den powers , and fecret ver-
tues,her Sympathies and An-
tipathies:, and by applying fit-
ly Aftives unto Paflives 5 now
urges nature fo Artificially,
that he makes her conclude &
aflent to work wonders: (And
happily thus far may proceed
both with true Sciece,&good
conference.) But what through
vanity of Science, error or
Confcience 3 lability of inno-
cence 5 what through curiofi-
ty, Credulity, vain Glory, &c.
is at length taken in thefnare
of praefcigious and Diabolical!
delufion. And now applies the
Creature to thofe ends and
& Concerning Witcheh &c- 35
inji ufes^ to which, cither by its
m owne propenfity , or by Gods
Wi Inftitution, it was never incli-
alj ned. The pa&ed Witch is one
yd only Operative 5 about feme
«u prodigious or Prodigious
things , and that only by ver-
tue of a fuperftitious Compact
or Contraft made with the
DivelL without, or again ft all
Rules and orders of Nature,
Art ? or Grace.
3. Ageneralldiftinftion(as
touching kinds) may be of the
Aftive,and thePaffive Witch.
The A&ive Witch I conceive
to Aft together with the Di-
vell j but the Pafiive Witch to
beAfted rather by him. One
by way of Confederation ^the
other
Cafes of Conference
other by reafon of fome obfeC
ilon 5 One as it were tempting
the Divell 5 the other rather
tempted byhim.One as it were
the Author, and the Di vel the
Inftrument 3 the other but the
bare Inftrument 3 and the Di-
vell the fole Author. One ma-
licioufly rejoycing and glory-
ing in prodigious prankes and
Exploits} the other fomewhat
irking and aftiamed. One not
infefting onely 5 but infe&ing
tlfo D by feeking to make m
thers Witches 5 the other wil-
ling or wifhing rather to bee
unmade it felfe. Of the one
fcinde I reckon the Witch of
Endor 5 1 Sam.28. of the other,
tfaeDamfeilin the Ads, A&
1 6* Yet
ComerningWitcheSi&c. 37
^ 1 6. Yet ought even the Paffive
teD1 f Witches to bee diftinguifhed
leni into the rneerly, and the mixt-
U\ ly Paffive. The meerly Paffive
M be fimply d^moniacks 5 but
M\ not Energumenifts. That is
M mainly fuffering ^ rather then
kfl A&ing by the Divell :more ex-
Igk cruciated and aJBifted , then
m occupied or exercifed by him,
d The mixtly Paffive be not the
nen Obfefled only, but the Opera-
$ tivelikewife. Of more A&ive
fet at firft in giving up their Wilts
f |i to Satans flavery, now become
^ morePaffive and led Captive
]$ by him at his will. Firft offe-
i i rin g themfelves freely andvo-
U luntarily 5 after forced, and as
0. ^wereneceffitatedtodoehis
# drudgery.
3 8 Cafes of Conference
drudgery. The Divell nowin-
fefting them 5 if they grow
flacke to infeft others.
3. Cafe. Whether there be not funk)
degrees of Witches and Witch-
crafts to be confidered ?
/^Riginall fin indeed (being
^^one & alike in all) admits
of no variety of degrees in any.
But witchcraft is an a&uall^ &
therefore none are borne 5 all
are made Witches. Talk they
what they can of an Incubus,
the Divell and the Witch pro-
duce not to witch-craft by
Generation but feducement.
Moreover 5 when by witch-
craft one growes fo high as the
fin againft the holy Ghoft,
thers now no further meafure
{Tave
Concerning W itches >&c 3 9
1 ( fave in numericall Ads ) for
> 15 one Witch to exceed another.
Otherwife there's no finne(ta->
jk ken indefinitely) but mayad-
i- mitoffeverallMeafureSj and
fo ( to every mans confiderati-
a on) highten or leffen the guilt
m or poenaky to that fubjed:
an in which it inheres.
8j It is worthy to be confcio-
ji nably waighM £ that in witch-
tlf craft there is an Ihchoation 3 as
ib well as a Confirmation. 1. The
pK Inchoatipn or difpofition to
I witch-craft is in fuperftition.
^ The Fathers 0 and Schoolmen
tc j therefore are not much amiffe
j| in defining witch-craft by fo-
J perftition : Making this to be
II the Germs, and gathering the
1 other
4© Cafes of Cmfc fence
Other in all the {pedes under
it 3 fothat no kind of Witch-
craft may be named, which is
not found upon fuperftition,
and works not by it. Becaufe
in this main A& 5 fuperftition
and Witch-craft both agree j
to apply the Creature as means
unto thofe ends and ufo j un-
to which it is neither apt by its
own nature ? nor thereunto or- 1
dained by divine Inftitution,
Only thefe two differ in de-
grees^for fuperftition is witch-
craft begun, and witchcraft is
fuperftition finifhed. Where-
fore now, fince Superftitions
are the feedes of witch-crafts*
and we allhavein us the feeds
ot fu P er ftitions;how ought we
then
°%lof!>
Mo fypel
ifty
irieraprtf
tkreuow
ion is wire 1
ntch-cd
Concerning Witches^ &c. 41
then to take heede of nourish-
ing fiiperftitions 5 and thofe e-
ipecially that bend &difpofe
to witch-craft ? which are in-
deed too much to be obferved
in the Obfervations a Traditi-
ons 5 Opinions ? AfFeftions 5
Profeffions., Proverbs 5 Pra&i-
fes 5 Occupations^and Conver-
fations of the Vulgar. Lord !
how many are the forcerous
fuperftitions of the Many ? As
they are too too notorious 5
in obferving of feafons for
lucky or unlucky 3 in foretel-
ling of Fortunes and deftinies$
in marking of Contingences
and Cafualties \ in caff ing of
Lots } in regarding of dreams ;
in making of meales, in ufing
of
&p. Cafes of Com :/ence
of fports, in fecuring of feares
in promoting of hopes, in cu'
ring of difeafes 5 in making of
Marriages ? in taking of Jour,
neys$ and the like: All which
(in truth) are grand fuperfti-
tions, or petty kinds of witch-
crafts. Yet are not to bee neg-
le&ed neither : for without
Gods good Grace 3 and great
mercie 5 they eafily grow to a
higher meafure or degree of
thatkindofmalignity, 2. The
Confummation and Comple-
tion of witch-craft 5 is in the
Witches abfolute Pa&.and re-
all Faft 5 whereby it is cove-
nanted Sc confented to work,
not by God 3 not by nature 5
not by Art, not by reafonj but
by
Concerning Witches^ &c- 43,
^ by diabolical I delufions alone.
I-| Likewife of real land abfo-
'goi lute Witches^ there are feveral
om degrees to bee confideredae-
W cording to feverall kindes of
a$ them. As the good Witch is
itd to bee judged and efteemed
nej worfe then the bad - 0 the Idola-
hou troufly pa dred^ worfe then the
gre; Cunningly Arted 3 theperni-
7 to. tioufly operative., worfe then
it I the fondly fpeculative : the
Tt( mifchievoufly Aftive 3 worfe
iple- then the abufed Paffive. For
] tk if among very Divels one may
die be found worfe then another^
0 ve- Lu. i 1.26. how much more a*
rori, niong Witches > nay even a-
lir e; mong Witches of the fame
,\?$ kind^ there are alfo confide-
I] ■ rable
44 Cafes of Conscience
rable degrees or aggravations'
to guide a Confcience ■ either
as touching jprivate Eftimati-
on , or publike Cenfure, vizi
i.F rom the Time, as theinve-
terate Witch is to bee thought
worfe then the Novice. 2.
Place, As a Witch at Court, is
worfe then a Witch in the
Countrey, and a Witch in the
Church worfe then a Witch in
herown Cell. 3 ,Sexe, As the
Male witch is worfe then the
Female. For though (he may
be ^ore envious and malici-
ous ; y et he has abufed the A-
W« and Nobler Sexe. 4. De-
» Quality as Tezabel was
worfe then the Witch of En-
dor -5.Profeffion, As the Chri-
ftian
Conee rning Witches 0 &c. 45
ltl(! ftian Witch is worfe then the
* Pagan. 6. Office, As the Cleri-
■j call is worfe then the Layicke
Witch.7.0bjea 5 Astopra£tile
• witch-craft on Men is worfe
)f then if on Beafts only. 8- Malfc
&i cious intent, As to have made
mt,i one Witch } is worfe then to
iti have bewitched many.
intl 4/ Cafe. What it is that maker a
t |l Wife/; tobeaWitcbi and one that
jj *fwy j«/*/y fc/i w fiwf W accounted?'
n I I T is fafe to believe that there
^ are Witches 5 and that thofe
glfo are of feverall kindes and
tel de grees. But very unfafe to
p £ pronoun ce peremptorily up-
}jS on fuch and fuch for Witches^
.jj and that upon falfe grounds,
I as vulgar report , bare fufpiti-
I on,
4& Cafes of Confcience
on;, fufpe&ed Anceftors \ de-
crepit age 3 fro ward afFe&ion,
•an ill tongue., or any cafual ac-
cident pr Event. Right efFe&s
are only cenfured with a fafe
Confcience 5 by thofe that are
able to difcerne them in their
proper Caufes ; Now therfore
4. Caufes are to be obferved 5 aI
concurring to the making up
of an abfolute Witch 5 viz.God
utterly deferting 3 the Devil!
delufively invading 5 Ipeciaf
fins hereunto difpofing, and
the Compaft throughly Com*
pleating.
1. God the deficient Caufe.
His defertion was enough to
^ak^ an Angell become a De-
vil! : how snuch more then for
a man
ConcerrdngWitcbes^&c* 47
t a man to becomea Witch? Yet
I all this is no adding to the
it Creatures malice, but onely to
I give it up to its owne power,
1 J that it may be knowne howe-
H vill it is , if his goodnelle bee
tl; once fubftra&ed. Nay ? Godis
i here not only a permiflive 5 but
^ a dire&ive caufe. For what
^ forbids that God fhould not
r f ft asjuftlyand wifely concur in
^ this Ad^as in all other evills of
$ finne? Yea great Reafonsare
I to bee given both for his per-
^ miffion and diredion herein,
A s 5 1 . for the manifeftation
»J °f owne Glory. As hec
J u did thefirft Witches we read
\ of, Exod.7.12. and 8. 18,19.
J§ 2 - for the tryall of the faith &
S * patience
4<5 Cafes of Confcience
on, fufpedcd Anceftors \ de- j
crepit age y froward affe&ioa,
•an ilkongue., or any cafaal ac-
^id^it pr Event. Right effedfe
are only cenfured with a fafe
Confcienee 5 by thofe that are
able to difcerne them in their
proper Caufes 5 Now therfore
4. Caufes are tb be obferved 5 al
concurring to the making up
of an abfolute Witch^viz.God
utterly deferting 3 the Devill
delufively invading 5 fpeciaf
fins hereunto difpofing 5 and
the Compaft throughly Conv
pleating.
1. God the deficient Caufe.
His defertion was enough to
niaW an Angell become a De-
vil! : how much more then for
a man
Concerning Witches ^ &c. 47
i a man to become a Wi tch? Yet
I all this is no adding to the
I Creatures malice, but onely to
i give it up to its owne power,
I that it may beknowne how^-
I vill it is , if his goodneife bee
r once fubftra&ed. Nay, God is
1 here not only a permiflive,but
I a dire&ive caufe. For what
il forbids that God fhould not
I asjuftlyand wifely concur in
I this A&,as in all other evills of
I finne? Yea great Reafons are
t to bee given both for his per-
j miffion and dire&ion herein.
A s 5 1. for the manifeftation
I °f hi s owne Glory. As hec
,j did the firft Witches we read
} of, Exod.7. 12. and 8. 18,19.
j a. F or the tryall of the faith &
t patience
4<S Cafes of Conference
patience of his Saints and Ser.
vants,Deu.i3.i,2 3 3. 3. For the |#
hardning of the wicked in ffcl
their wilfull delufions^ Exod " '
74?. . 2. The£ 2. 9a 1. 4. For
to make the Witches them-
felves examples of his juftice
both here and hereafter., Exo.
9.12. .Ifa»i9.3,4.&44;2S.Aft
13.11.Revel.2ii8. 5. For the
more confufion of the Devill
himfelfe both in his fruftrati-
on and ejedtion.Ifa.44. 2 5.M1G
3-6,7. Matth. 1 2.28,29. i loh*
3.8. Ads 16.18.
2. The principall Efficient
pfa Witch is the Devill 5 who
indeed is the father of all fuchj
and they his chiefely begotten
Children. I meane it not by
way
i
Concerning Witches^ &c. 4$
^ way of Incubus 5 which I can-
r " not believe to be other then
j} the height of all phantafticall
>i Delufions^though the Patrons
ti of it never fo earneftly in-
to ftance in thofe hairy ones, or
ift ftaggy ones, ( for fo the word
Ei founds being either way pro-
| pounced ) Lev. 17.7.^. 13.21.
rtl By which are to bee under-
let ftood not devills Brats, but
bt Devills themfelves that ap~
A peared to Witches in fuch
jj ftiapes when they worfhipped
them.-Orin theFawnes, Sa-
ck! tyrs^Sylvanes or Syrens , that
w |i the Poets frig of: Or in the
id Legendary Stories of our
0 Merlin or their Magdalen : Or
[| in the Plebeian-traditions of
| D Fairies^
5 o Caj h of Confcknce
Fairies, Elks , and Change*
lings I Or in the old or latter
Stories of fuchlike Indian m
ces. All thefe am not enough
to move my beliefe 5 and To
much the leile 5 becaufe they
have impudently blafphemed
Divum Lutheram, tobedne
of this brooch But whenjfajv
the Devill is the Father of
Witches , Imeaneitafter no
other manner then as heeisof
all the wicked John 8.44. by
thefcdu&ion of finne.not a-
ny produ&ion of nature. Yet
I gram them his Children by a
more fpeeiall and mutuall a-
«*>ption 5 and of all others moft
bearing his Image and fimili-
^ And thus he goes a&owt
his
Concerning TFitcbes y &c* 5 r
! his worke in their forming &
». framing. All Witchcrafts for
U their Originalljnvention, O-
I peration., and ufe, being pri-
'l n&rily in the Devill ( as the
i Miles of his depraved know-
! ledge) onely he perceives that
a hee wants fitinftruments for
6 their execution. And there-
[i forq finding a fai thlefle heart,
s afrowardnature^afeebleSex^
I 8h. impotent age 9 an illiterate
! Education^ melancholy con-
t ftit^tion 3 andadifcontented
[ condition ; hee now workes
1 further (and for his fpeciali
Purpcft) to blinde the un-
' derftanding more and more,
to deprave the will, to inordi-
nate theaffe&iqns, to perturb
D 2 the
g£ Cafes of Conference
the paffions 5 to poffefle the
interiour^and delude the exte.
riourfenfes : and fo infufing
execrable fuggeftions^of mur-
muring againft God 0 and de-
foe of Revenge again ft Man 5
lie thus though not abfolutely
inforces them, yet efficaciouf-
ly inclines them to become
Witches. And it is further to
be obferved 3 that the fitteft
fubjed or matter for him here
to worke upon 3 are women
commonly And therefore
(in Hebrew) a Witch is for
the moft part rendred in the
Foeminine gender 5 and there
are many proverbs like that of
the Rabines 5 More women,
more Witches. The realbn
hereof
ComerningWitcbeS} &*c. 53
hereof is rendred varioufly,
from the Sexes Infirmity 5 Ig-,
norarice 5 Im potence of pafii-
ons and Aifedions melancho-
ly/olitarinefie, timoroufneffe,
credulity 6 inconftancy 5 &c.
But let not the Male bee boa-
fting, or fecure of t heir Sexes
Exemption or lefle difpofiti-
on. Fprwee read of Pharaohs
Magitians^ Nebuchadnezzar's
Aftrologers, Manaflehs Wiz-
ards of Balaam, Simon Ma-
gus, Elymas the Sorcerer, &c.
As b well as of Jezabel 3 the
Witch of Endor 3 the Pytho-
niffe, Sec. And thofe the more
notorious and malignantly o-
perative Witches of the two,
3. Themoving or provoking
D 3 Caufc.%
*j 4 Caf as of Confcknce
CaufeSj are divers fins 0 that
more eminently difpofe to
witchcraft :fuch as are 5 i. Ido-
latry 5 therefore are thefe two
( Idolatry & witchcraft ) con-
joined fo frequently 3 Lev.2o.5 3
6. 2 King. 21. 5 3 6. and 23, 24.
Gal.5.20. 2. Superftition^asis
faid before, 3. Swearing 3 and
blafpheming 3 Mal.g.5. 2 Thef.
4.9. 4. Imprecation or curfing,
and therefore to curie, is as
much as to bewitch. Num. 22.
6. 5. Inordinate vagrant luffed
2 Kings 9. 22. Nahum 3. 4.
6. Curiofity 5 this makes the
Magicall Witch 3 Ads 19.19.
7- Envy 3 hatred, malice,defire
of revenge, Gal. 5.20. 8. De-
praved and indulged Melan-
choly?
1 CQncerningJVitcheSi&c. 55
iV choly i which notably difpo-
* fes the matter to the introdu-
U cing of luch a forme.Ifa. 1 3.2-1 .
\i\ & 34.13,14. 9. Covetoufnefs,
tt]j poverty, &c. Mic. 3. 1 1. Nah,
aj 3. 4. That all thefe are provo*
h: cations to Witchcraft 5 wee
m have it abundantly in ftory 5 e-
« I ven from Witches owne Con-
2I Midns. And this life are wee
J to make of it 5 that as we would
1 J n*>t bee given over to Witch-
craft : fo fhould wee not give
mx felves over to thofe finnes
that fo proximately difpofe &
incline us thereunto.
f 4. The formall caufe of a
^ Witch, is the Covenant 3 Com-
'rt paft 5 Contraft D Confoederati -
W on,League 5 focietie, familia-
^ on^eague,, 10c
r, D 4 nty|
§6 Cafes of Conference
rity with the Devill. Which
hidden myftery of iniquitieis
more generally con fen ted to
that it is 5 thenexa&ly difclo-
fed what it is. All are ready to
take the Witches Compaft
for granted p yet few (for
ought I fee) can well tell us
what it is. Nay the Learned^
are readyer to diftinguifh it,
then to define it. So that
hereupon it hath been fome-
what diffented 5 and that
moreover in regard of Satans
preftigious delufion herein,
ludibrious convention 0 pro-
digious profeffion ? impious
ftipulation y perfidious inten-
tion, ridiculous obfignation,-
&c. And (in very truth) but
to
Concerning Witcbesy&c 5-7
to Difcufie this faidfoleinn
Pad or League ( according to
probabilitie or poffibilitie) as
it is meerely related touching
the formality or folemnity.
of it: were enough to fettle
a judicious mans faith upon
the vanity of it: if not upon
thenullity altogether.For thus
Fryarly Authors, together
with the Tradition of the
vulgar, make it up like a Tale
or Legend, viz. How that the
Convention for fuch a fo-
lemne Initiation being pro-
clamed (by fome Herald Imp)
to fome others of the Confe-
deration g on the Lords day or
fpme great Holy day, or chief
Feflivall , they m eete in fom e
D 5 Church
yg Cafes Conscience
Church neer the Font, or high
Altar, & that either very Ear-
ly 5 before the Confecrated bel
hath tolld, or the leaft fprink-
ling of holy water $ or elfe ve-
ry late after all fervices are
paft and over. Where the par-
ty in fome Vefture for that
purpofe 3 is prefented, by fome
Confederate or familiar^to the
Prince of Devills 5 fitting now
in a Throne of Tnfernall Maje-
fty> appearing in the form of a
Man ( only labouring to hide
his cloven foote ) To whom
(after often bowing 5 and ho-
mage done in kifling his backe
parts) a petition is prefented
to be received unto his Aflbei-
ationandprotedion;And firft
CmcerningWitchef 3 &c. \§
(if the Witch bee outwardly
Chriftian) Baptifme mull: bee
renounced^and the Party muffc
be Re-baptized in the Devills
name , and a new name is alfo
impofed by himrand here muft
be God-fathers too , for the
Devill takes them not to be fo
adult, as to promife and vow
for themfelves. But above alF,
lie is very bufie with his long
nayles, in feraping and ferat-
ching thofe places of the fore-
head, where the figneof the
Crofie was made, or where the
Chrifme was laid. In ftead of
both which, he himfelfe im-
preffes or inures the marke of
the Beaft , the Devills Flefh-
bra&d upon one or other part
o£
6o Cafes of Conference
of the Body: and teaches them
to make an oyle or oyntment,
of live Infants ftoln out of the
Cradle ( before they be figned
with the fign of the Crofle) or
dead ones ftolne out of their
Graves, the which they are to
boyletoa Jellyiand then drin-
king one part ? and befmearing
themfelves with another., they
forthwith feel themfelves wm
preft and endowed with the
faculties of this myfticall Art.
Further the Witch (for his or
her part) vowes, (either by
word of mouth 3 orperadven-
ture by writing, and that in
^heir own blood) to give both
body and foule to the DevilL
To deny & defie God the F
Concerning Witcbes^&c* 4i
ther, the Sonne, and the Holy
1 Ghofi But efpecially the bled
& fed Virgin, eon vitiating her
I with one infamous nick-name
)oi or other. To abhor the Word
liei and Sacrament s, but eipeciilly
I to fpit at the faying of Maffe.
rb To fpume at the Crofle , and
[in| tread Saints Images under
k feet. And as much as poffibly
im they may to profane all Saints
tk ' Reliques, holy water, confer
Ait, crated falt 5 waxe, &c. To bee
isoi fure to faft on Sunday es , and
j|j eate Flefh on Fridays , not to
0 confeffe their finnes however
lt i they do 5 efpecially to a Prieft.
^tl To feparate from the Catho-
0 like Church , and defpife his
$ Vicars primacy. To attend his
M no&ur-
0 Cafes of Confcience
no&urnall Conventicles, Sab-
baths. Sacrifices. To take him
for their God , worfhip, in-
voke , obey him , 8cc. To de-
vote their Children to him, &
to labour all they may to bring
others into the fame Confer
deracy. Then the Devill for
his part promifes to be always
prefent with them , to ferve
them at their beck. That they
{hall have their wills upon a-
ny Body, that they (hall have
what riches, honours, plea-
fures they can imagine. And
if any be fo wary as to thinke
of their future Being, he tells
them they (hall be Principali-
ties ruling in the Aire^ or {hall
but bee turned into Impesat
worft.
Concerning Witches,&c.
& worft. Then hee preaches to
I them to be mindefull of their
■ Covenant, and not to faile
k to revenge them (elves upon
|l their Enemies. Then he com-
mends to them (for thefe pur-
ife pofes) an Impe^or Familia r 3 in
fa the ftiape of a Dogge 6 Cat,
■ mode, rat 3 weafle., &c. After
art this they (hake hands^embra^e
he] in armes 5 dance, feaft & ban-
I I quet D according as the Devill
tave hath provided in Im ita tion of
| the Supper. Nay 5 oft times
\i he marries them ere they part
fife either to himfelf e, or their Fa-
tell miliar, or to one another, and
|| tha t by the B ook of Common
|| prayer ( as a pretender to
$i wkchfinding lately told mem
oift the
^4 Cafes of C onf :ience
me in the Audience of many.)
After this they part, till the
next great conventicle or Sab-
bath of theirs , wc h is to meet
thrice in a year , conveyed as
fwift as the winds from remo-
teft places of the Earth, where
the moft notorious of them
meet to redintegrate their Co-
venant,& give accout of their
Improvement. Where they
that have dorie the moft exe-
crable mifchiefe, and can brag
of it 3 make moft merry with
the Devill, and they that have
been indiligent, & have done
but petty fervices in compan-
ion, are jeered and derided by
the Devill and all the reft of
the company. Andfuch as are
abfeat r :
Concerning Witches^ &c. 65
I abfent 5 and have no care to be
* affoygned 5 are amerced to
a ' this penalty 3 fo to be beaten
J* on the palms of their feete D to
■ be whipt with iron rods 5 to be
^ pincht and fuckt by their Fa -
m miliars till their heart blood
W come, till they repent them of
0 their floath^and promife more
& attendance and diligence for
tb the future. Thus you fee what
e« we are likely to attain to 5 by
U fearching too precifely into
4 Diabolicall folemnities g a-
kl mongft fome probabilities to
dotf manifold Impoflibilities^ab-
,pa(i furdities, among fome truths^
e dl to manifold fuperftitions,
$ But laying afide all curiofity
ajl ( as indeed not neceffary)in
[)f(H • feeking
66 Cafes of Con ference
feekingto informe orrefolve
our felvesof the form or man-
ner of this Diabolicall Com-
pact: wee may with modera-
tion content our felves 5 that
fome reality is to be concei-
ved, among!} many pr^ftigi-
ous Delufions. A fubftantkfl
Covenant, notwithftandigalf
the fallacious Ceremonies.
J^mighi nothing but Iffipfr
fttires in the principal! 'A|^fif>
yet reall Depravation in the
ptionall In ffrument.For albe-
it this rnyfticall Leviathan
will make no faithfull Cove-
nant, lob. 414. nor canbe-
€aufe of the irreconcilable
cnmity^Gen.g.i 5. neither will
indeed bee bound to be a Ser-
vant)
S
1
Concerning Witches^&c> 6y
\ Servant L to bee compelled
at the Witches command :
a neverthelelle to infnare fuch
' e: in their fuperftition , may
i hee fimulate the fame. And
to after the working of Satan,
k with all power and fignes and
i lying wonders, and deceiva-
1$ bleneffe of unrighteoufneile^
)Hf God may fend them ftrong
ttif Delufions , that they riiajr
f beleivealye. r The&2.9 5 :fd>
ti if; Likewife the Spirit ipea«
al keth exprefly , that in the
gtb latter times feme (hall depart
y from the Faith 5 giving heed
$m feducing Spirits and Do-
) e | ftrines of Devills. 1 . Tim.4, 1 ♦
^ Neither is there any doubt to
\$bee made, but that a Cove-
nan^
68 Cafes of Confciem
nant may be made with death, '
and an Agreement with Hell* " "
Efa.28.1 5.aiid that fellowfihip
may be had with Devills
them fel ves 5 1 Con 1 o. 2 o. wee M "
know well that the Tempter
is ready to propofe both the
Condition and the Reward
of a Compaft, Matt^.And
wee heard before that one
name of Witches is to bee cat
led Ioynm or Confociators,
Sal. not onely among them-
felves, but with the Devil!
alfo. Eefides the Devil is Gods
-Ape^ a nd Gne tr h at: f a ines to
nnitte him though in con-
trary wayes. And therefore
as God makes a Covenant of
Grace with his : fo doth the
Devill
I
Concerning Witches > &c 6$
| Devill with his a Covenant of
It Death. Neither indeed is the
I univerfall Confeffion of Wit-
I ches themfelves (touching
I fucha compact) to be difre-
pt garded. For whofcnowesthc
i guilt of their owneConfcien-
I ces better then they them-
k felves?and though they tell us
d of never fo much Delufion^
4 yet can wee conceive the cor-
I mptipri that is in it. Nor yet is
i confent and experience
4 of all Ages to bee reje&ed:
j, that tells us of f uc h Fafts of
i Witchcraft^asmuft neceffari-
i Jyoe concluded to follow the
Jf. me - For where any extraor-
fl ? m fY or wonderous thing
jj ls d °Wy and that neither by.
i the
Concerning Witches, & c . 7 ,
the power of God, nor of the
good Angels 5 nor by the
power of Nature, nor of Art;
itmuft needs be done by the
ppwernf the DevilL And in
*Pf fewument that doth it
either the force of a ppfleiSon^
or thevertue of feme Part, is
neceftarily to bee fuppofed
which is briefely thus to bee
difcerned. The Devill mj
worke the firft way upon a
man againft his will topunifii
and torment him : But he
wprkes :qot with him, at
will, or to ferve him 3 but the
fecond way alone.
. Such a Covenant or com pa# |
is unanimoufly delivered by k
the Learned, to bee two fold j
Explicite, and Implicitci. Ex-
plicit
i 70 Cafes of C<mfcienc&
tiplicite, or Exprefle 5 byword
) r or writings wherein it is rim*
dually ftipulated; the witch to
doe the Devills will; and the
y Devill to doe the witches will.-
and all this more vifibly ? for-
mally and ceremonially Cen-
tal firmed. 2. Implicite or more
po£ fecret : which is conceived/
ol ifiay be done divers wayes ; as
I I firfs by a meer Aflent that the
pd Devill fhould doe it^and faith
3i that he will doe it.2. By a Pro-
III ^ e y 5 yeilding and affenting to
|j receive and ufe, Rules, %nes 5
3t l andmeanes from other Wit-
ches 3 without any immediate
^ vow or Conference as yet. 5.
j| By ufing fuperftitious Innova-
4 tioi % or Imprecations- witha
p per-
i
72 Cafes of Confckme
perfwafion or Expectation of
their Iffue. 4. By employing
meanes to thofe purpofes 5 to
which God never appointed
them 3 nor their owne nature
enqlined them 3 and yet confi-
dent of their EfFeft. 5. By
feeking too , and confulting
with Witches for thdr. ad-
vice, helpe 5 &c. For there is
the fame faith and affent now
both of the Confulter and the
Pra&ifer. 6. By afTenting to
ufe fuch meanes and fignesas
witches alfo ufe: (viz. Charms,
Spells, Chara&ers, Figures,
Circles , Ligatures 5 words,
phrafes, Ceremonies 3 geftures,
&c.) not well conlideringthe
fuperftitious inftitutions, but
perad-
• Concerning Witches^ &c. 75
I j>eradventure perfwaded of
' c ! (bme real vertue in them. For
1 even Witches themfelves
I make certain Confe&ions (as
1 Broths, oyles^nguents, pow-
I ders, &c. ) the vertue whereof
I they impute not folely to the
% Devi],but partly to the things
v. themfelvesH
n Now let Witches be Exa-
if mined upon thefe two maine
M Grounds of their making :
ipnd where one is fo become
ie 1 after an explicite manner of
ill Covenanting ; more then ten
I of them are guilty after the
irJImphcite and Invifible way
ir^nely. And there is this Dif-
Terence ( which would beno-
Mted) between them. The Ex-
$ E plicite
74 Cafes of Conference
plicite Covenanter is the no-
torious and audacious 5 the
Implicitebut a Novice and a
Baftard in comparifon. The
Explicite hath alwayes fome
vifible or fenfible familiarity 5
lb hath not the im plicite as
yet. The Explicite is become
a perpetuall wit<fc 5 the Ira-
plicite may onely be but fo for
that prefent A& 5 or time being:
onely this is to be feared ^the
Implicite being hardned a
while D may grow to be Expli-
cite at length.
5. Cafe, What are the Signes d
Markes of a TFitcb, whereby fucb
4n one may be rightly dif :er»
mit and fo cenfured?
Clgnes of a Witch are either
U true or falfejright or wrong*
i
Concerning TFi'.cbes, &c. 75
And this is a %ne that Igno-
1 rant and ill men have prelu-
1 med to judg and cenftire here,
, as well as ot hers 5 Nay, in that
J the received fignes or markes
are more falfe then true; more
I ftrong then rights itisafigne
I that fuch kind of men have
•beene more forward tocen-
J : fare here then others. For as
1 the men were, fo were their
j Markes either more orlefle
*advifed. Amidft which varie-
ty, let me here difringuifh of
tome unwarrantable" f ome
ii T u^ hh > and fome morein-
. 1. Some Marks, or Tokens of
* rya 1 altogether unwarran-
table 5 as proceeding from
¥ 2 Igno-
1 6 Cafes of Co n fete nee
Ignorance, humor /uperftitio}
fuch are, i The oldpaganifli
fign, the Witches long eyes. 2
The Tradition of the witches
not weeping. 3 The Witches
making ilfavored faces & mu-
bling. 4 To burn the thing be-
witched, &c. ( I am loath to
ipeak out, left I might teach
thefe in reproving them.) 5
The burning of the thatch of
the Witches houfe,&c. 6. The
heating of the horfefhoe, &c.
7. The fcalding water 5 &c. 8.
The fticking of knifes acroffe,
&c 9 The putting of fuch and
fuch things under the Threfh-
hold 3 and in the Bedftraw, &c.
io The feiveand the fhearcs,
&c. xiThecaftins theWitch |
into the water witn thumbes
& toes tyed acrofs 5 &c.i 2.Thc
Concerning Witches^ &c* 77
tying of knots 5 &c. If thefe(or
'"the like) be figns ? to try and
tiet
he!
am Ig
know a Witch by^ certainly it
can be no other Witch but the
ufer of them. And if it bee ob-
jeded 3 that the expedcd Effed
hath followed hereupon^ I an-
fwer 5 that may be done by the
#Devil 3 not for the Witches con-
I ^vidions, but to nourifh the o-
Wither in their fuperftitio. To al]
pi thefe I cannot but adde one at
B large, w ch I have lately learnt 5
^(partly fro fomecomunicatioil
jfes i I had w th one of the Witchfin-
0 ti. ders(as they call them) partly
Jc| from the confeffion ( which!
p heard of a fufpeded & a Com-
0 mitted witch fo handled as flie
t | £ f faid 3 8c partly as the countrey-
|jtl & 3 people
78 Cafi ts of Confckna 1
people talk of it. Having ta-
ken the fufpefted Witcb 3 fiiee
is placed in the middle of a
room upon a (tool 5 or Table,
crofie legg 'd D or in feme other
uneafie pofiure 3 to which if ftie
fubmitsnot 5 (he is then bound
with cords, there is (he watch
& kept without meat or fleep
for the fpace of 24. hours. For
(they fay) within that time
they (hall fee her Impe come
and fuck ; a little hole is like-
wife made in the door for the
Impe to come in at : and left
jt might come in feme leffe
difcernible (hape 9 they that
watch are taught to be ever &
anon fweeping the room, and
if they fee any fpiders or fives,
Concerning Witcbes^&c* j9
| to kill them. And if they can-
* not kill ftrem 5 then they may
ct be fure they are her Impes. If
I this be true, how fhould it
^ trouble us 5 that an invention
B or pra&ife of fo much folly &
| fuperftition (hculd arife a-
I midft fo cleare a light of the
| Gofpell? But as to the killing
J) of the Imp., let mee further in-
| form them., that if the Imp b£
I of a wafted 8c condenfed ay
lit it cannot be killd, becaufe k
rtl never had life : But if it bee a
[J very Cat or Dogge ? &c. only
lJ pofiefledwith theDevill 5 it
| maybekildrAndlhaveheard
i a Committed Witch confefle 3
0 that fhe kild one time her dog 5
$ another time her Cat ( both
1 E /j, her
$o Cafes of Conference
imps)for going out & doing fo
much milchiet againft her wil.
2. Some figns probably yet
not fo certaine as to fern for
the Witches Convi&ion. Such
arc, i . Strong and long fufpiti-
on. 2. Sufpe&ed Anceftors. 3,
Bare Confeflion. 4. Some Ap-
pearance of Faft. 5. The corps
bleeding upon the Witches
touch.6.The teftimony of the
party bewitched. 7. Thefup*
pofed witches unufiial bodily
$narks.8The witches ufual cur
fing 8c banning.9.The witches
lewd & naughty kind of life.
3. Some more infallible and
certaine fignes. As. 1 .Declining
Judicature, or Faltering^ faul-
ty, unconftant and contrary
Anfwersj
ft
>able.
)ient
ion,
to Concerning lFitcbes>&c 8*1
:doin; Anfwers - y upon judiciall and J
deliberate examination. 2.J
When by a true examination!
(of Faith and Mannrs ) there J
.J are found all ormoft of the!
M .caufes fore-fpoken of. viz.)
^ God Deferring, the Devill
5 0II1£ : invading, particular fins dif-
ry poimg^and the Com pad com- '
, nfj pleating. 3. The Witches free
onvof Confeftion, together with
^yfull Evidence of the Fafiv
. 1. j For Confeilion without Fafr,
r . may be a meer delufto; & Fa£t
£ . without Con ref lion ? may be
be . j but a meer aecidet.4." I he fem-
,^1 'blable Geftures and demea-
all^ nures of Witches, with Com-
.D^l parable exprefiions of paflions
2rt* and affetHons, which in all;
J % E 5 . [Witch©
82 Cafes of Gonfomce
Witchesr(of all Times and
Places) have been obfervcd
and found to be very much
alike, 5«The Teftimonyofthe
party bewitched. (whether pi-
ning or Dying ) together
with the joynt Oaths offuffi-
cient perfons that have feene
certain prodigious prankes or
feates, wrought by the party
accufed. 6. Haunting thehou-
fes or companyes of notorious
Witches, and efpecially fre-
quenting their nightly mee-
ting. 7. Whom other notori-
ous Witches have impeached
tobeasillasthemfelves. 8. if
noted for long dif-frequen-
ting & neglecting the Church,
or Congregation^ the word
preached
Concerning Witches, &c.
preached, and Sacrament ad-
miniftred. (j.Ifit can be pro-
ved that fuch an one hath al-
lured or inticed others to
witchcraft, i.o. A maligning 8c
oppugning the Word 5 Work r
and Worfhip of God : and
by any extraordinary ligrie,
feeking to pervert and feduce
any from it. Deut.i 3.1.2. Mat.
24.24. Afts 1 3.8.10. 2 Tim. 3..
8. Do but marke well the pla-
ces j and for this very proper-
tie (of thus oppofing and per-
verting) they are all there con->
eluded to be arrant and abfo-
lute Witches.
Now to guide the Confer-
ence in difcerning and cenfu-
ring 5 where the fignes & notes
(on^
$4 Cafes 6 f Confcience
(one with another) of the laft
fort are found 5 there ( as tou-
ching the Witch) it may fafe-
ly be pronounced and proclai-
med. Where thofe of the fe-
cond only are 5 there may bee
fome fufpition or eftimation,
and that irreprehenfible. But
wher no note of Tryal is to be
found, fave only thofe of the
firft fort , there it is egregious
Calumny, and infamy irrepa-
rable. We therefore approve
of the laft, admit of the fe-
^cond, but altogether condemn
thefirft. Yet ( as touching the
fecond) there is need of fome
Caution , becaufe it is much
fcpon fttfpition. ( And all fuf-
pition whatfoever , cannot be
but
Concerning Wit cbes^&c. %
j but unfafe to Confcience, if it
\ want the due Caveats) What
!e Confcience then can here bee
I in common people that are
j carryed away not onely with
b fufpitionbutfuperftition ? E-
oi very poore and pee villi olde
I Creature ( (lich is their Igno- f
A ranee and llncharitableneile)
if cannot but fall under their
[Oi fufpition, nay their infamous
y exprobation 5 every Accident 5
oi ( more then ordinary ) every
»fc difeafe whereof they neither
e i underftand the Caufe, nor are
r the acquainted with the Symp-
$ tomes) muftbeefufpe&edfor
g witch-craft. His Cow or his
[J Hog, cannot be ftrangely ta~
ken > but ftraight it muftbee
reckoned
%6 Cafes of Conscience
reckoned and rumored for be-
witcht. And now their ill will
to the next neighbouring filly
Creature 5 muft peremptorily
taxeher ill will ( in the worft
fenfe) for the only caufe of all
A bare Cafualty 3 or accidental
effeft ( efpecially if any thing
touches them in their owne
particular ) {hall now bee to
them a more fare and certaine
Token of the Witch 5 then all
the marks that Learning and
Experience fpeakes of befides.
And there's no ftaving them
off their owne conceited way
of Tryall 3 though it bee never
fo unwarrantable 5 never fo
unlawfull. And but toadvife
them to prudence and Confci-
ence
Concerning Witches 0 &c.
i ence in fuch a cafe 5 is to hero*
I puted and reported, a Patron,
I a Pleader 5 a Favourer and a
or Flefher of Witches. But men
t that are either conscientious
i or judicious 5 will not eafily
ent harbour a fufpition (either in
1 this or any other thing) unlefs
M it bee from fome very fhrewd
ci Agnes, probable reafon , fre-
l| quent Experience : nor will
in they lightly admit of any re-
al port (bee it never fo old, fo
i§ common ) unleffe it bee alfo
to from the well reported.
s
r| 6. Cafe
4 • :
18 Cafes of Cdnfciente
6. Cafe. Whether Witch-feeling , or
Witch-finding be an An^Vnciti-
en y ProfeJJiony Occupations Office,
or Trade of Life 5 allowable in a
a Chriftian Church or State ?
nr His Cafe is new 5 becaufe
fuch aProfeffion or occu-
pation has not beene heard of
heretofore. And therfore fince
I am to venture where the
path is not troden 3 I fhall wiU
lingly yield to any that can
fhew meeadire&er way to
truth in this particular 5 then
that which I now propofe.Di-
ftinguifhinghere betwixt the
Authority, the Art \ and the
office of Witch-finding ? and
thereupon thus determining.
1. That the Authority (of
Cover-
Concerning Witches, &c. 8?
t\ Governors in Church and
S State) is (to fuch a purpofe as
Witch-fearchhg or Witch-
/ finding) not onely Lawful!,
but laudable : not onely war-
I rantable, but commendable
j withall In Deut. 18.10. ThenP
111 ftall not be found among you
:,ID j fciLGodsPeopIe 5 &c.TWsim-
t [ . .ports an Authority from God
lt to feek out fiich} Elfe how
1 ? fhould it be knowne, whe-
4 ther fuch were to bee found
{ amongft them yea or no vln
w 1 Sam. 28. 7. Sauls Authority
<J iajoyning his Servants ( Seeke
»j me a woman that hath a Fami-
, I liar Spirit )was not unwarran-
table, but his purpofe onely.
tff But every way commendable
V 1 Was.
90 Cafes of Confcience
was Jofiahs fpying out of fuch 5 -
a.King.23.24. as mrirelyboth-
proceeding from obedience^
and tending to Reformation.
2. That the Art of Witch-
jEnding is very Difficult. 1.
feecaufe Satan is fubtile 3 and
has even here a icoc deluding
Arts, and waves. 2. Moftmen
are ignorant of his Stratagems,
enterprizes 3 devices ? g.Witch-
craft it felfe is a darke myftery
of iniquitie. 4. It is fo particu-
lar a Depravation 5 that it can
hardly be gheft at or imagined
by any femblance of thofe
common feeds of corruptions
that are in Men. 5. Even Wit-
ches themfelves are ignorant
of this their owne Art. 6. The
true
Concerning Witcbes^&c* 9 1
I true markes of a Witch (or
\ mental! Chara&ers) are not
j eafie tobedifcerned.
3, 3. That the office of Witch-
I finding is exceeding doubtful.,
i Becaufe he that offers to take
» upon him fuch an office, can-
1 not(I am afraid to give fatisfa-
I ftion to thefe doubts, and the
j like, i . Though perad venture
I hee may have procured fome
jj Authoritie from men: yet
I whether he be hereunto called
i and inabled by God} 2. Whe-
| ther he is able to execute it
I with a good confcience voyd
i of offence both towards God,
it and towards men^. Whether
I he have any certaine and infal-
I hble Rules of Difcerning to
j pro-
f2 Cafes of Conscience
prcceedby$4.Whether(in this
undertaking) he aim not more
at a privat Advantage, then at
the piiblick Good ? 5. Whe-
ther he often times ufesnot
unlawfull and indireft meanes
of Difcoverie 5 or incourages
not the Common People to
ufe the fame ? 6 Whether hee
may not give occafion to De-
fame Ten that are Innocent 5
before hedefcover one that is
guilty?7 # Whether his Carria-
ges in this bufinefs^may not be
a great occafon to augment
the vulgar Peoples fuperftiti-
ons (and very dangeroufly wj
perftitious) opinions/ufpiti-
onSjtraditions^perfwafionSjaf-
feftions, admirations 3 and Re-
lations
m
HI
le to
ft
:ent*
bat!
\m
totbe
mat
rfti
m
£oncemingJfitches 0 &c* 93 *
lations > (I propofe this to be
well confidered, becaufe the
Country People talke already.,
and that more frequently,
more afFeftedly, of the 4 infalli-
ble and wonderfull power of
the Witchfinders $ then they
doe of God, or Chrifh, or the
Qofpell preached ). 8. Whe-
ther peremptorily to pro-
nounce before-hand what
multitudes of Witches are to
be found in every Country of
England, be not (befides a
wicked Calumny,) an irrepa-
rable Infamie to the Church of
England 5 in caufing the adver-
faries of the Reformed Reli-
gion to blafpheme >
Befides all this \ I require
full
94 Concerning Witches > &c.
fel fatisfa&ion in thefe Doubt
alfo:ForIam not fatisfied.
thatfuchan office ought to b
taken vipon them by anypri
vat perfchs, as a Calling, Pro-
fgffion, occupation or Trad
of Life. Becaufe, if any Law-
fulnefle be in fuch a kind o
Callings it muft either be as
ordinary, or as extraordinary,
i • I conceive, n ot as an Ordi-
nary calling, i. Becaufe ordi-
nary Callings have ordinary
Principles , Grounds 5 Pre-
cepts, Rules, Documents,
Prefcriptions, Dire&ions, Ex-
amples, Prefidents 3 Exercifes,
Praftifes, &c. 2. Ordinary
Callings have Ordinary Deri-
vations 5 Propagations , Con-
tinu-
Cafes ofCQufcience 95
A tinuation, &c. 3. Wee worthi-
I ly confute the Papifts, forfet-
I ting up the office or Calling of
£ an Exorcift, as Ordinary and
0. conftant in the Church. Of
k whofe Office are two maine
$ A&s$ one to difcerne ? difco-
0! ver., and defcry the Devill and
i the Witch: the other toad-
vj, jure, charme, expell., remove
& &c. The former of which
&* Acts is here confeft 3 and if
in any Formes of adjuration bee
re- ufedin the Examination or
its, Difcovery ? the other is not to
>! be denied. And how wary
$, muft hee bee here in Exami-
irj ning 5 that would take heed
i of Adjuring? 4. As touching
p the feeond Ad of fuch an
ifr Office,
9 6 Cafes of Conference
Office, the Scripture plainly
denyesan ordinary or fettled
Calling, faying They are Va-
gabonds , that they tooke it
upon them , and for this caufe
it is demanded, Who are ye >
that is, where's your calling or
power thus to do > Afts 19.13,
14, 1 5. And therefore may the
firft Aft very well be doubted
of.
2. Not as Extraordinary.
For 1. The Extraordinarily
Called, are raifed and fepara-
ted , immediately,eminently 5
piiraculoufly : 2. And that up-
on extraordinary occasions, as
when the Church of God is
thereby extreamely infefted,
infe&ed, obfeured, indange-
red.
Concerning Witches^ &c. 97
l| red. 3. Such are evermore by
t God prepared, gifted, ftreng-
1 tkned,maintained,perfe&ed.
I All that can bee obje&ed to
I me is; How then would you
tl have Witches found out?I an-
il fwer, by the po w T er of the Ma-
li giftracy and Miniftery 5 ap-
jfc pointing and employing (up-
A on evident and urgent neceffi-
ty 5 as when not only common
rjj Reports, but prodigious Fades
I cry out) fit perfons to fuch a
purpofe. I fay fit ^ both for
number and Quality, x. For
if number, Competent. Not one
\i or two obfeure perfons,A man
1 is with a woman, &c. But even a
% Efficient number , the better
f t0 Examine, Reafon, Debate,
* F Difcerm
p3 Cafes of Conference
Difcern 5 Determine 5 in caft
of particular Refpe&s ? Ends,
fancies 0 opinions 5 humours
Paffions 5 Aiieftions^&c. 2. Foi
Quality, meet Perfons for tha
purpofe ? which ought not to
be, 1. Ignorant, 2. Profane. 3
Covetoufnefle. But ought to
be ? i. Confcientious, 2. Dif-
creet. 3. Learned. And Lear-
ned, very learned. 1. In nam
rail Philofophy 3 that they may
difcern betwixt things meerly
pra^ftigious, and theMirables
of Nature, in her occult Qua
lities ? Sympathies 9 Antipa
thies , and apt conjunction 0.
A&ives to Paflives. Through
:norance whereof, a Coun-
try Fellow is ready to cry a
Wit*
Concerning Witches^ m* 99
i Witch, or a thing done in the
I Devills name , ifheefeeone
1 make iron to walke after
S him , though by vertue of a
$ Loadftone. Or to create fire
tt in a wide field, though it be by
force of a burning glaffe, fo he
t! would in ignorant manner
1 think all bewitcht , that his
u fliip fhould ftand immovea-
iti ble, and nothing to hinder it,
aj but a (lender Remora, So
eii would an Indian, when he fees
bit a man from a great Gunnes
i mouth, fall down dead, more
f then a mile ofE 2. In phyficke;
ill to judge of Fad s and Effe&s
i (in Men orBeafts) whether
i naturall, preternaturall, Sec.
iji for how apt are ordinaiy peo-
4 F 2 pie
i oo Cafes ofConf denes
pie to apprehend the ftrangc
handlings in Extaftes 5 Fren-
zies^ Lunaries 9 Lethargies,
convulfions, falling fickneflfes,
&c. to bee no other then very
/Witchcrafts. 3. In Divinity 5 to
examine the confeience by the
R ules of the word., & dictates
of -right reafon^& to difcern &
declare how utterly eppofite
thediabolicall Covenant is 5 to
the Covenant of Grace. 4. In
Law, to declare who are here
lyable 5 and how far^Sc to what
kinds or degrees of guilt or pe-
nalty.
Now that fuch as thefe
( upon due occafion ) are the
only requifite and approvabk
for fuch a purpofe: and that e-
• ven
0
Concerning Witches^ &c ici
15 yen they|them{elvcs fhall find
it this undertaking a matter of
| no foal difficulty^will plainly
I appear if the principal grouds
I of a Witches difcovery be wel
| confidered 5 which are either
I from fufpition 5 confeffion 5
I compaftj pra<3ife 5 markes 5 or
II imps. As touching 1 fufpition,
oil whether caufelefs, or reafona-
I ble. Or the extent of fufpition
j whether general! or particu-
I lar. Or the perfon fufpefiing,
I whether idle 5 or of honed re-
tj pute. Or the perfon fufpected^
whether his or her eminent
I vermes or graces 5 will admit
I offuchathing 5 yeaorno?
,| 2* Confeffion 5 How warily
I would it be confidered ; if the
I F 3 party
1 02 Cafes of Conf rlencs
party confeffing bee of rig
iftlda : and not diabolical!
Hie not m
x\ to
probabilities only, but impo
iibilitiesrif it be not forced^bu
a free confeflion. If Melancho
ly Humors work not too fon
and falfe felf-perfwafions. I
they may not be feme feeds o
fuperftitio difpofing to witch
craft only 5 whereof the Con-
fcience convi&cd and diftra-
€ied 5 errs confoiedly in appre-
hending and acknowledging
all the Completion thereof
3* Compaft $ whether the
League or Covenant made
with the Devill be Explicate
andfolemn g or Tmplicite and
fecret. If Implicate onlyjwhe-
ther
Concerning Witches>&c. t®$
ther an Implicite pa£t ( being
but a ba re afiet of the mind or
wil)ferve utterly to renounce
God & Chrift.&c. And to joyn
in fall fociety and familiarity
with theDcvill? And whether
all fins of malice^ re not guilty
in fome degree of the like re-
nuntiation and Confederacy.
4. Praftife ^ whether no Ma-
gicall , foreerous Charming,
Conjuring, praftigious Afts,
can be done without a diaho-
licall Confcederacie ? whether
every Effeft of malefice and
mifchiefethat is immediately
confequentiall to a Curfed
Tongue, be to be cenfiired as
a work of direft witchcraft?
whether of wondrous and dif-
4 malt
104 Cafes of Conference
mall Events., fome be not to
referred to the Mirables of n c
ture 5 fome to contingencie
cafualty;, fome to divine jud^
ment., fome to Diabolicall ob
leffion 5 as well as fome to E
fafcination ? whether the De
vill may not work the Fads
EfFe&s of witchcraft 5 by fuc
as only ftand as yet, but in th
Temptation, or fome difpofi
tion to be Witches ? whethe
the devil (as author) may not
worke fome particular efFefts
of mifchief, againft the Wil &
Intention of the Inftrument >
5- Markes. Whether the ex-
preffe Chara&er of a Witch
be Corporall or Mentally
Whether all Witches have*
Cor-
Cmmning Wiiche$>&c it>5 i
Corporall Markes 5 or diaboli-
call Flefh-brands > Whether
all Witches Flelh Markes be a-
i like in every part 0 and fo to be
i. known by Compar i fon ? W h c~
|j ther the Devill lets his exprefs
I and vifible feale 5 upon the f m-
| plicite and in vifible Compact >
i How may it be difcerned be-
i twixt this Devills body-mark,,
(j and any other Corporall Infir-
j mitie ? I have hard itTraditi-
f onally Fabled of the frraoge
r figure 3 color 5 noyfomenelle^
l bloodlefnefs, (earednefs 3 dcad-
nefle a &c. yet to meek is no-
j thing Argumentative. But T
I will help them to one which,
j (I take it) is demonftrative..
viz. If the Learned Phyfician.
F 5 caa
io6 Cafes of Con[cience„
can folidly conceive and aver
that fuch a thing can have no
natural 1 caufe from the Body,
nor can be of any Ifiue orufe
to the Eody$ then it argues and
Demonft rates fomething in-
deed. For the Devilis Erandes
perifh utterly, and are loft to
any natural! ufe of the Body 5
as being impreft and inured to
ferve for no other purpofe,
"but as Seals to the Devilis Sa-
crament alone. Laftly, what
man (of never fo much obfer-
vation or Experience) can
with a fafe confcicnce take his
oath diredlv.that fuch Markes
are impreft by the DeviiL. and
ferve onely for his ufe ?
6. Imps ? whether all Wit-
- — ^~
Concerning Witches 5 &c. 1 07
< ehcs have their Imps or deak
l with Familiars ? whether a
I vifible Impe be given upon an
i Invifible Compadt > whether
i the Impe workes at the Wit-
is- dies, or at the Devills Com-
lie mand or Inft igation ? How can
h a Familiar or Impe be difcer-
k ned ? if it never did any thing,
it but what ( by nature, or Art )
)ol a Creature of that fame kind,
sSa- may ftand in a Capacity to do>
A who can .flatly a teft w th a good
bfr Confcience, that this or that
1 d Dog, Cat, Rat, Moufe, &c. is
;e lf the W itches Imp or Familiar ?
0 Thefe things being con-
jcl fidered (with many moe al-
5 moft irrefoluble fcruples, that,
might pertaineto this fcruti-
SoS Cafes of Conference
ny) I fee not but that I ma
conclude ? Though the A
thoritybe commendable, y
the Cafe is doubtfully theun
dertaking difficult, the pro
feffion dangerous, but th
ulurpation damnable.
7. Cafe. Whether all fuch Feates 9
irickgSy? ranks-) and Exploit s y as
Witches are [aid to play \ he credi-
ble to prudent Chriflians?
'""The Featesor prankes of
Witches, are nothing elfe,
but an applying of unnatural!
and unapt meanes, andun-
appointed by God , to bring
fome ftrange, oddeor infre-
quent, fome prodigious, ftu-
pendous or wondrous things ,
to
£ UttrnmgWitcbes>&e* tog
i to paffe* and prefent them to
I the outward fenfes. The more
* light and Trivial 1 of them are
i done by the Watchmaking s
to having an Imp (as. an Ape)
i ready to play fnch tricks at a ,
becke 5 or a nodde. But the /
more prodigious or (ha pen- I
dous are effected meerly by I
f the Devil! 5 the witch all the )
while either in a Rapt, ecfta-
fie 3 a charmed fleepe 5 or a
! 0t melancholy Dreame : and the
I' Witches imagmation^phanta- (
n " fie ? common fenfe, only delu- \
f ded with what is now done, j
t or pretended. /
I All which Feats might be I
ft referred to the Witches Com- /
if pafe, Conventicles^ or coin- \
t f jnoiif
i io Cafes of Confcience
mon pra£Hfes. And thou
Learned men (that write v
iumes of this fubjed) be muc
" upon them, yet I (that in ten
but an Abftract) lift not t
belong upon the Legend o
Witches. And therefore for
beare to order them: and dial
onely give a Taft of them con
fufedly 3 and one amongft ano-
* ther. They tel us (and the vul-
gar fecond them with num-
berles Traditions) of their
reading in the moon, al things
t that {hall come to paffe for a
Thoufand Generations. Of
their reading by ftar-light,
what another has writte in his
Glofet a Thoufand miles off.
Ofeaufing the voyces of two
Ill
ConcexningWitmSy&c.
in Conference to be mutually
heard although as diftant one
from another as the Eaft is
from the Weft. Of their being
metamorphofed 5 or turned in-
to Beafts !) Bears ;) Dogs 3 Wolves,
Goats, Catts 3 Hares 5 &c. of
their cutting one anothers
heads off 3 and fettingthem on
again s fuffering their Limbs
to be pluckt afunder and knit-
ting the to again immediatly.
Of their flying in the Airerand
walking invisible. Of their ri-
ding long and tedious lour
:
neys upon Broom es and Di
ftaffes? and their fayling over
feas in Eggfhells. Of their car-
nall Copulation with the De-
vill ; and what feat Elfes and
Change-
ii% Cafes of Conference
Changelings of fuch a Coiti-
on 5 now as bigge as Gyants 5
and anon as little as Pigmeyes.
Of their Eating ( up whole
Fields of Corn or hay, & drin-
king up whole rivers in feives.
Of prefenting a Curious Ban-
quet upon the Table 5 and
inviting thereto their Guefts
out of FairyLand. Of making
a garden of delicat flowers to
fpring up in your Parlour m
the dead of winter. Of railing
Stormes and fhowres out of
Tubs 0 turning Streams back-
ward 5 haling Ships laden a-
gainft Wind and water, with
Haires or twined Threads. Of
making a Cock or aFlyeto
draw the hugeft £eame.Of
II
111
Concerning Witches^ &c.
giving Potions to make peo-
ple love or hate as they pleafe.
Making the ftrength of youth
impotent , and dead Bodies
viripotent. Of making bodies
impenetrable or (hot-free $
annoyntingthe Weapon, and
curing the wound , without
the lead: virtual 1 Contiguity:
And turning all Metalls into
Gold, Drinking off a glaffe of
Garret, and make -it to fpout
out of the forehead prefently."
Shewing you fuch and fuch
Faces in Glafles &c. Caufing
to daunce naked Sec. What
fliould I tell of their Feates
wrought by Figures, Chara-
&ers,Spells, Ligatures^Circles^
Numbers.BarbarifmesJmages
1 1-4 Cafes of Confcience
of wax or clay, Gyflaft
iooking-glal1es,Bafons of wa
ters,herbs, powders,unguents
fawes, knives, pins , needles
Candles, rings, garters,gloves
8cc. I feare I have even cloyd
while I talked but of giving
Taft. fa ' " &
A wife Chriftian and Con-
icientious wil leave the faith
of all or moll: of thefe matters,
with the Authors. No prodi-
gious Acts (though avouched
and attefted by hundreds and
Thoufands ) mud impofe
upon his Eeleife.- If they ut-
terly thwart his etemall and
infallible Rules of Truth,
which are,
'•■Tobeleve, that all the De-
vils
Concerning Witcbe^&c- 115
vilk ftupendous A&ions in
this kind 3 are praftigxous De-
lations. That is 5 either meerly
Del'ufivej where allelfe is im-
poffible 3 but the Delufion it
felferor mktly delufive, where
peradventure amongft fome
reality of meanes 5 matter, e-
vent 5 there is nothing but pra~
ftigioufnefte of Forme, End,
Eflteft.
W2. To believe nothing of all
thefe, that (in the leaft) do u-
furp or trench upon the divine
Attributes 5 omnifcience, om-
nipotence, &c. For though
Devills be intelligential crea-
tures, and of admirable Inge-
ny and fagacity in comparifon
to reafonable Souls 5 yet while
their
n6 Cafes of Conscience
(their Intellect was unobfcu.
red by their Fall) all their per,
fpicacity never reached to a
ftado w of Omnifciencermuch
Idle can all their long Experi-
ence, Obfervation, orReyela-
tion 5 now attain to it. And
therfore if they forefee of the-
felves, or foretel feme kind of .
F utures 5 it is but as they are
containcl in their natural can-
dor difpofitions: And if they
ghefsarfomefecret intentions
or affeftios of the heart 5 it is no
more then from certaine out-
ward motions. So that wee
may well conclude s they are
ignorant^ and erre in very ma-
ny things 5 whereof the Am-
biguity of their propofitions
and
Concerning Witcbes&c. 1 17
( and predi&icns^re a fufficient
\ Confeffion.
fl Likewife,though Devils be
1 called Principalities and pow-
1f ers, & that no power on earth
i may be compared to them^yet
I was all their power(ere debili-
ty tated by their fall ) of no force
ito that power that belongeth
fl unto God^Wonders they may
i worke, but thofe lying ones,
I Deut.3.2. Mat. 24.24. 2 Thef.
tic; 2. 9. And yet not thofe, but as
I permitted by God, not Impe-
| dited by.Angels , and having
: i the matter hereunto fom what
I praedifpofed. And even then
U it is (forthe moft part) prcfti-
| gious too. Illuding humane
| fenfes, abufing their Fancies,
and
2i 8 Concerning JFitches,&c.
and ( which is worfe) decei
ving their hearts, Their ut
moft is but to produce phan
tafmaticall or falfe fpecies o
things 3 and if any thing be
now verily done ? it is but b
applying A dives to Paffives
which if wee were as cunnin
in as they $ we might alfodo
without them, and need neve
be beholding to them. But as
for Miracles (of a true nam
and thing) they are as fcrange
and as admirable to them, as
they are to us. And indeede
neither for them ? nor us 5 nor
for Angells to do 3 but for God
alone, Pfal.72.18. He only can
work miracles ? to whom no-
thing is a Miracle. And it were
Cafes of Confcience 1 1 p
j eafie (were it not too long) to
diftinguifli betwixt divine
j Miracles^ and Diabolical Pro-
digies; both from the dignity
i and vertue of the doere $ the
j Quality ? Excellency of the
3 thing done, with the admira-
jj bleand advantagious manner
l and end of doing,
i 3. To believe nothing of
I thefe, that (being granted)
i muft of neceffity work the u-
f niverfall diforder and confufi-
I on of nature. For though the
I Devili may haply bee able to
I perturbe fome particular
I courfe of Nature : yet (Devils
I themfelves being part of the
0 tlniverfe ) have no power to
1 vvorke to the Confufion and
! deftruftion
120 Cafes of Connie nee
deftradion of the whole.
4. To beleeve nothing 0 f
them, that utterly impugn the
■tfidfcitesof right Reafbn, For
that would dirediy implv
contradictions ^ and then m
poffibilities are neceflarily to
be concluded,
5. Not to beleeve any thing
ofthefe, contrary to the infal-
lible Rules of Gods word. For
what Faith can bee of thofe
things, that crofle the grounds
ofFaith > Againft which eter-
nail Rules of truth (whether
of precept, proxnife, or pra-
ttife) Devills and men , in all
their Operations or Tefrimo-
nies muft needes bee found
Lyars.
6, Nothing
Concerning Witches* &c. 1 2 1
6. Nothing ffiuft be believed
j of all thefe 3 as tending to truth
J or to God. For the Devillis
i falfe, andean fpeak no trueth,
but to deceive 5 and the Devil
is naught, and will do nothinj
to like to Good 5 but to hurt an(
endamage fo much the more.
9, Cafe. Whether the power of a
Witch be fucb as is ordinarily fup-
fofedi
, |F we would beleddebythe
[ ® terrible Traditions, Opinio
r * ons 3 and apprehenfions of t he
1 vulgar 5 they are moftly rea-
' to imagine 3 the power of
a Witch 3 tobe more like the
power of a Devill 3 then of a
Witch: andfo, the power of a
Dcvifl to-be more like the po-
n G W0
10*
122 Cajes of Confidence
wer of a God 3 then of a Devil
And are eftfoones affrayd of
the power of the Devill, more
then of Go D : And of the
W IT C H 5 more then of the
Devil L : yea and (out of
that feare) are ready er to ferve
and pleafe the Devill and the
Witch, then God himfelfe.
•But to be better informed, let
us here inquire.,
i. Whence have Witches
all their power ? And I fay,
firft^Notof Ggc|. For this h
it chjf felythat; rmk^th^M
to be forcerous and protiigj*
0u$ o that the wounder is
wrought, but not by tfcepow*
er of G,oi Yet I dare n6m
xkfe. ,-Jpower . ^:thdrs(i^ a
Concerning Wi\c)m y &c. j 2 5
I everi]tis)is not from God.
I For the evil Spirit was from
j the Lordj that troubled & ter«
I riliedSaul. 2 Sam.16.14. Nei-
I ther did Satan touch Iob 5 (bo-
j dy:or goods) but as God gave
j him, once and againe into his
I hands/ lob. 1. and 2. Nor had
| alltheBdvills power to enter
I into or infeftthe fwine D but as
Chrift was pleafed to permitt.
j! Mar. 5,12. whence I conclude
i 1 that God hath even here alfe
1 a workkg power r viz r ofpe&
t mifliofe, Limitation Dire&i?
} <Hii ? yea & of Cooperation; and
yet all this without the leaft
| probation of the power
I *ufed by the Devill or the
\ Witch. 2. Not from good An-
Y^/&**fc. rJBk*&>rv^fc> gel
124 CAf^°f Con f C ' £nce
gells. For good Angells and
Witches never worke one
with another.* Becaufe Witch-
es work by vertue of a Com-
pact, to adore the Power that
they work by : and that the
Good Angells can in no wife
indure. Revel.19.10. Neither
(though they may be Inftru-
ments of Gods juft judge-
ments) can they be afuftant to
the malice and iniquity of the
Creature. Neither yet will the
Excellency and Ingenuity ot
good Angels, fufFer them to
condefcend (upon any tearnu
between them) or diifemblea
being bound at a vile wretchej
beck. How much deceived
«** (through Satansmn;
Concerning Witches^ &c. 125
formation of himfelf )are thofe
Witches that have imagined
their Familiars to be no other
then good Angels?3.Not from
Nature. For they take her un-
apteft means $ and apply them
to the wrongeftcnds. 4. Not
fromArt D or Science. Becaufe
they are indeed ignorant ofal!
fuch grounds and principles
rules & reafons. 5. Al their po-
wer therefore muft needes bee
from the devil only 5 who con-
veys unto them., what power is
permitted him in that particu-
lar; by vertue of a cur fed Con-
tract or confederation. In tl
1
execution wherof 5 he himfelfe
nevertheless is the fole agent }
and they but the wretched In-
G 3 ftraments*
%2-6 Cafes of Conference
Inftruments. For (as the He-
brew hath it of the Witch
Endor, i Sam. 28. 7. and is
pl ainly rendred 5 IN ahum 5 .4.)
though they feeme Ladies and
Miftreffes of their Arts & a&$
yet are they indeed but Satans
meer fiaves and Vaffals. Com*
manding openly that power,
as if they were fuperiour to
him rand yet fecretly invoking
it 3 as inferior. And fothe De-
vil! feemes as if hee were now
compelled to obey ^ when hee
cunningly diflembles it 5 for
his own ends. Only he is wil-
ling to have this power both
to be challenged by them 5 and
imputed to them : that fo hee
may transfer upon them 5 the
Concerning Witcbes 0 &c. 1 2 y
guilt, and hatred, ofalithofe
Mischiefs & Malignities, both
J before God, and men.
2. After what manner doe
I theyufe to exercife their po-
s; werofbewitching?Sometimes
v they praftife their power with
i more Formality 5 fometimes
1 with lefie. Now on a fodain 8c
I all at once 5 now by times and
j|j degrees. Some by them felves,
)& fome with their fellow Witch-
o\v es. Sometimes after this man-
t ner 5 and by thefe means: fome-
fo times by the clean contrary. As
$i witneffes ( what from confef-
qJ fion,and Tradition) their fun-
$1 dry bewitching places , Sea-
let fcns, Veftures, Geftures , Po-
| ftures, Spells, Chara&ers, Li-
lt G 4 gatures,
128 Cafes ofConfcience
gatures, Signes^ Images, Con-
fe&k>tts,herbs,unguets,meats 3
drinkes, powders , boylings,
broylings^ fraldings,burnings,
buryings, &c. Indeed , what
Aft or Inftrument of Man, can
be named 5 that has not been,
or may not be 0 forceroufly a-
bufed ? Let me inftance more
exprefly in a few particulars,
1 . Some worke their bewitch-
ings only by way of Invocati-
on^ ImprecatioruThey wifli
it, or will it 5 and fo it falls out,
2. Some by way ofEmiflary;
fending out their Imps, or Fa-
miliars, to crofle the way, p
file, affront, flafh in the Face,
barke , howle, bite, fcratcb,
or otherwise mfeft. 3. Some
Concerning Witches 22 j>
j by Infpe&ing 3 or looking onj>
I but to glare, or fquint, or peep
j at with an envious and evil!
j eye 5 is fufficient to efFafcinate.
I (Efpecially Infants 8c women
( with Child.) 4. Some by a de-
a miffe hollow muttering or
jj mumbling 5 Ifa.8.i9.8c294^ 5.
i Some by breathing 8c blowing
$ on^the ufuall way of the vene-
I fick,6.Some by curfing 8c ban-
t ning. 7. Somebybleuingand
i praifing. 8. Some revenge-
I fully 5 by occafion of ill turns,
ui ' 9. Someiugratefally .> and by
I occafion of good turnes. 10*
I Some by leaving fomething
$ of theirs in your Houfe. 11
I Some by getting fomething
f of yours into their Houfe.
O 5 1 2. Some
130 C<tfes of Conscience
1 2. Sonle have a more fpeciall
way of working by feverall E,
lements ; Earthy water, ayre,
or fire. But who can tell all
the manner of wayes of a Wit-
ches working.; that works not
only darkly and clofely , but
varioufly & verfatilly, as God
will permit,the Devil can fug-
geft, orthe*maliciousHagde-
Yife to put in praftife ?
g. Upon whom do Witches
execute their power ? If wee
can credite what is reported of
the old Pagan Witches 5 how
they threaten the Gods, the
Heavens, Sphears, Planets, E-
lements, &c. To pull downe
the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and
preferve their Influences J»
Concerning Witcbe$ 0 &c. 13 $
Boxes, to mingle al*,and make
a new Chaos, to dry up the
Seas, and remove Mountains,
&c. Nay and feme of our later
Witches are wont to brag of a
power they have over the Db-
vill himfelfe, how they can
compell him, chain him, whip
him, torment him. And thefe
are they the Pa pifts call Exor^
cifts, which we call Conjurers.
Who are faid to differ from o-
ther kinde of Witches in this,
that they can imperioufly
command the Devill 3 &c.
Whereas others are glad to do
ail by Invocation or Intreaty.
Indeed Chrift gave his Pifci-.
pies an extraordinary power
againft him 5 Mar. p 5. and 1$
17.
i%2 Cafes of Conference
\j. and for any thing that hee
can do againft us 0 hath left us
the ordinary means, i Pet. 5.8,
9. But I would thefe kinde of
people could as eafily extricate
themfelves out of the Devills
power : as wee ( for Trueths
iake)muft vindicate him from
theirs. And t hat 1 . Becaufe a
Creature that is inferiour by
Nature, cannot (without a di-
vine power) compell one that
is (uperiour to it.
2. A pretence to or ufurpa-
tion of a Divine power againft
him, prevayles not to fubject
feim,butinrage him rather, as
likely the Devill would in-
dent or deliver my A £
whirw
ffincerning Winhes^&c. 13
whereby himfelf might verily
bee coar&ed or conftrained :
who is of fuch a pride as can
indure to be brought into no
\ fubje&ion or obediencejwhe-,
ther to God, or Men.
I But thus much is to be be-
1 leived even by knowing Chri-
) ftians.That witches may have
] a power from the Devill to
i perturbe all things fublunary.
* And therefore they,, and tne
Devill are not amifle faydto
» move winds. Stormy Tem-
b peftSjfhowrs^Lightnings^and
i fome fay Thunders) hayle^
I fnow 3 Frofk, mifts 3 Fogg%
i fmokes, Blaftings, Skathfires^
I Earthquakes a Seawradcs 5 Sick-
ii nefles 5 Difeafes 8ca ( I fpare to
I fpeake
13 4 Cafes of Conference
fpeak of their more notorious
power over things inanimate,
vegetables and all brute Crea-
tures) But as touching Man-
kind (for there's all thefpite
of the Devill^ and the Witch)
that abufe not the other Crea-
tures, but in his prejudice.
Concerning fuch ? it is com-
monly faid, that witches have
power over Infants^more then
the Aged;over Women, more
then over men^ and over wo-
men with Child, more then
over others. And for theproof
wee are put to ftoiy 5 Traditi-
on., and Experience. But the
Queftion (beft worth deci-
ding in the whole Cafe )is this.
Whether Witches have any
power
Concerning JVitcbes^&c. 135
power againft faithful & god-
ly men : as well as againft the
Wicked and profane. Some
people are perfwaded, that a
Witch can have no power at
all againft a faithfnll man.
And think themfelves armed
fufficiently to their opinion,
011 fromag;reat Witches owne
^ Confeflion. Numbers., 23,23.
* Surely thereis no enchantmet
111 againft: Iacob 3 nor is there any
jj f Divination againft Ifrael. But
* it would be conftdered, that
* the Hebrew word ftgrfifies
* ( Notice) rather then (not a-
« gainft:)yea but iay.not againft
* Jacob, not againft Ifrael;- Jacob
P ind Ifrael there intimate a
tjj Congregation 3 not a perfon.
* Thus
Thus therefore it may truly be
diftinguiftied 3 & determined;
That Witches and Sorcerers
can have no power againft the
whole Church of God D the
wholebody of Chrift^but may
doubtles over this or that par-
ticular perfon 5 though never
fo pious, never fo beleeving.
Becaufe fuch a fubjeftiaOjfol-
lowes Gods permiflxon. And
being but a temporall evill,
no faith or piety hath here an
abfolute promife of Exempti-
onrSatan had his obfeffing po-
wer even over Iob ? a Godly
manias well as over Saul 5 a
wicked man. Chrift acknow-
ledges one for a daughter ot
Abra Wand withall that U*
3 \vas
I Concerning Wi\cbe$> &c. 137
was troubled with a fpirit of
Infirmity, Luk. 13. That is, an
Infirmity wrought by the
i meanes of an evill Spirit How
I eafy were it (but that I refolve
j againft all fuch prolixity )to
{ inftance from the Fathers, and
t other Authors, of more then
[ Hundreds of good and Godly
1 men (in all Ages ) not onely
1 immediatly obfeffed by the
I Devill^but by his evill Inftru-
1 ments,moftftrangely and ter-
i ribly bewitcht ? Befides Ex*
0 amples and experience, there
1 is reafon alfo to eftabliih this
i,i for a Truth, 1 . Becaufe Cor-
f poral bewitching is ( as I faid)
I but an outward fuffering 5 a~
t gainft which not the beft Saint
i hath
138 Cafes of Conference
hath any Ground to plead an
abfolute priviledg. 2. One of
themaine Reafons of Gods
permiffion of Witches were
thus eluded, viz. For the Try.
all of the Faith and patience
of the Saints, which, how
could itpoflible be 5 if t hey
were here Exem pted ? 3 . The
Devills hatred is greateft a
gainft Godly men 3 whom he
labors m oft (by himfelfeand -
his • Inftruments) to difturbe :
and Diftradh Yet in this Com-
munity of fufferance, is there
fome difference to be obfer-
ved. As the Godly are be-
witched in their B ody onely *
the Wicked both in body and
foule. The Godly for the Try-
Concerning Witches )&c 139
k all of their Graces; the Wick-
lei ed for the punifhment of
jot their Sins. The wicked Curfe
% God to his face.- the Godly
In blefle him fo much the more,
en To the Godly 5 this is all their
Hell: to the Wicked 0 but as
their Hells beginning.
j ?. Cafe. How., the power and malice vf
el ; Witches may be prevented and re-
D'lj dreft mth a good Conscience ?
% , T"* H e Popifli Schoolemeh
f not a little leave our Con-
M Fciences perplexed^ in this
If Queftion of theirs. Whether
\ it be lawfull to 1 remove the
$ fignes ofWitchcraft^totheln-
k tent the EfFeft thereof may
* ce ^fe> In that they who pro-
f| pofed it> are divided iipoA
it.
'140 Cafes ofConfcience
it. Some of them make it an
Ad meritorious y fo to doc-
Some againe, an Ad Super-
ftitious. But their Refolution
on either fide fatisfies not For
it cannot be an Ad meritori-
ous in any (to difpell or de-
ftroy the figns^ means & works
of the Dey ill)but in him alone
that came into the world for
that very intent. 1 Iohn.3.8.
Nor is it to be counted for an
Ad fuperftitious^ to remove
or diflblve any things that
the Witch hath left or put in
anyplace, for a Signe, Spell 5
Charmeto bewitch by 3 and
thatfucha thing removed,
difiblved, the Witchcraft ^
difappointed and jnuft ceafe
Concerning Witches&c. 141
So be 3 it be certain that they
are the fignes or meanes of
witchcraft D and placed there
for that very End. And that
1 there beenota more diligent
I fearch to find out the Witches
i figne or fpell \ then to betake
i to prayers and like duties. And
i that the Effefr of fuch ceafing
i bee not hoped or expe&ed
jl meerly from the Removallof
[I the thing 5 nor as theConfe-
0 quent or Condition of the di-
lii abolicall Compact. But that it
ti is done through Confidence in
)'el God 5 and a contempt of all
0 fuch Sorceries. For if a man
4 were certaine that fuch a thing
1 were a Witches figne or fpell
I tobewitch by 5 it would aigue
$ more
1 42 Concerning Witches^&c.
more aflent to the Devils word
king to fufFer it y and let it aJ
lone 5 then to remove or deJ
firo^it. Neither is there any
dodbt to bee made 5 but thk
Wfoehfcraft ( with all the Ap-
pendices) may be refifted and
ipemoved by any unlawful
meanes. Which cannot but be
ftich 5 if there be no confulting
with, cofeti&g tb^or expe&ing
from the Devill : but a Refe-
rence to 5 confidence in 5 and
depehdance upon God alond
Indeed pebpte are there but
tod fuperftitious 5 is touching
the Fortifying or aeiieving
themfeltes. 4pa{fe : over what
ft^rftttio^ Ritoedies are
feers taught in thai: other Re-
ligion-
Cafes ofConf rience 1 43
I Jjgion 5 as the tolling ofabap-
J tized bell ; figning with the
i j figneoftheCroffe, fpr inkling
with holy water J bleffing of
Oyle, Waxe 5 Candles^ Salt^
I Bread 5 Cheefe 3 Garmentsf;weao
pons 5 &c. carrying about faints
Reliques 3 with a thoufetid fa-
ll perftitious fopperies of their
i exorcifing Trade. I only fpeak
: J of fiich fuperftitious pra&ifes^
fe| as are ufed by men of all Reli-
gions, i, Infeeking toa witch^
to be holpen againft a Wifthi
2. In ufing a certain or fupf^
fedCharme ; againft an uncer-
taine or fufpe&ed witchcraft.
I In fearching anxioufiy for
the Witches %ne or Token
leftbehinde her in the hou%
tinder
144 Cafes of Confcience
under thg Threfhold,in the
Bedftraw: and to before to
flight upon it, burning every
Odd ragge or bone 3 or feather
? that is, to be found. 4. In fwea-
ring, rayling, threatning, cur-
ling, and banning the Witch:
as if this were a right Way, to
bewitch the Witch from Be-
witching. 5. In Banging and
bafting, fcratching & clawing,
to draw blood of the witch 1
an Aft not onely fuperftiti-
ous 3 but foinjurious^thatit's
rather a provocation to the
malice of the witch, then any
Fortification againftjt 6M
daring and defying the Witch
out ot aCarnall fecurity, and
prefumptuous temerity: ^ Be-
Concerning Witches^ &c. 145
1 believe well (faythey ) have a
I good heart and fearenot 5 and
I the Witch can have no power
i over 5 &c. A good Beliefe will
ft now arme well indeed : But a-
,( lafs! that's quite another things
I to this confident Audacity,
ai One is in God y the other in
i themfelves. One is the Confi-
( j dence of a pure heart 0 the o~
| ? i ther is the fecurity of the pro-
jj fane : One keepes within its
I own Calling, the other wan-
jj ders out of it And fo not only
0 j tempts God, but the Devill
j 1 too. It is worth the obferving,
how the Devill once ferved
^ than upon fuch a prefuining
^asthis, A&s 19. 13.. and 16.
I But what fay they for all this >
% H Bold
1 46 Ca/b of Conference
Bold 'Bayard once da (lit out
the Witches brahies. Never
tell them 5 they have alwayes
obfeivcd that Witches leaft
hurt them 5 that worft ufe
them 5 and they that are leaft
affraid of them, ftill fare beft
by them, Oh ! how the Devil
diffembles a feare ofthofemeti
whofe Cafes are moft to bee
feared ? how hee fparesthem
Temporally, that he may not
fpare them fpiritually and e-
ternally ? what cares hefor be-
witching their Bodies 0 when
hee has thus bewitched their
better parts, their foules ? >
Thus having removed all
falfe means ^ Though we here
approve of no kind of ttovcu
\
Concerning Witches^ &c. 1 47
t fing 5 much leffe admit it as an
: ordinary calling in the Church
I of Chrift 5 yet we freely pro
(1 fefle j that God hath not here
I left his church deftitute of fuf-
( ficient and lawful! Remedies,
I whether Prefervative or Re-
I Iterative. Andthefbbe ^1. A
1 Confcionable care againft fin,
t the old Witch of all That did
$ Effafcinate our firft Parents,
at and us in their loyns* hut fince
lij hath dire&ly bewitched us,
k, both in our profeffions, Gal.3.
i. as alfo in our Converfati-
If. oas, 1 Sam, 1 5. 22. That hath
inade us make a Covenant
(I with Death D and an Agree-
ment wit^ Hdl^ Ifa.-28.-15.
$ t hat hath brought us to an
H 1 H 2^ Abnega-
L
1 4§ Cafes of Conf tfeme
Abnegation of the facred Tri-
nity 5 and to a corruption and
profanation D both of Word
and Sacraments. That makes
us beleeve wee are Lords and
Ladies of our own Wils^when
wee are the only fervile wret-
ches 3 led Captive by Satan at
his Will
That rewards onely with
meer delufions of momentary
pleafures 3 to the hazard of e-
ternall paines. More efpecially
it behoves us to take heed of
all fuch finnes as"( befidesthe
Devill) more particularly ex-
pofe us to the Witch. And
| they are> i.Morofe Cogitati-
ons ; For they tempt God to
give us over to vifible tempta-
tion
4
Concerning tPitches>&c 149
fions. 7. Dire Imprecations 5
for they want only Gods fay-
ing Amen unto them. 3. Ty-
rannous and oppreffive Acti-
ons $ for they caufe the Lord
to depart from us 3 and an evil!
fpirit from the Lord to trou-
ble us. 4, Hypocriticall pro-
feffions ; For if the uncleane
fpirit finde his houfe empty of
all true graces, and fwept only
by an outward Reftraint D of
fome more fcandalous and no-
torious vices : and Garnifhed
With fimulated vermes, fupcr-
fluous obfervations , affected
garbes , and formall fervices :
then hee taketh with himfelfe
feven other fpirit % &c. "Matt Ik
. 12.44,45. And it is to be no-
H 3 ted
150 Caf ts of Conscience
ted how theDevill has ah/ays
delighted to haunt & f req^ent
Mona fteriesj Nunneries 5 and
old Abbeys, places of fo much
hypocrifie. 5, Superftitious
and profane communication?,-
cfpecially of Devills, Witches,
and Witch-tinders. We have
lome ftories of fuch as by ma-
king thefe their Table-talke,
have made themfelves the
more obnoxious to their infe-
ftations. It is ftrange to tell
what fuperftitious opinions,
affe&ions, relation are gene-
rallyrifen amongft usance the
Witch-finders came into the
Countrey. And I pray God
that thefe things doe notdif-
pofe & expofe us to Witches,
rather
f
0
i
9
Concerning Witches>&c. 1 5 1
rather then help to ridde us of
them.
i, Next to a care againft
finals an endeavour after gra*
ces.And thofe 1. Faith, for
that makes every way ftrong-
to refift the Devil! , 1 Pet, 5,85
9. 2. Purity of heart, for the
unclean fpirit findes no reft in
dry places, Mat- 1 243 . And to
let him find no reft in us, is the
way not to be molefted by him
in any kind. 3. Prayer and fa-
fting, for thefe are prevalent a-
gainft the worft kind of them,
Matth. 17. 2i. 4. Confidence
in Chrifts name aud power,
word andpromifes, Mark. 16.
17. 5. Frequent reading and
meditating upon the holy
H 4 Scrip-
' 1
1M ' '
j$2 Cafes ofConfclmce
Scriptures/or ther's the fword
of the Spirit 3 to pierce the head
of the huge Leviathan .'There's
the voyce of the wife Char-
mer 5 to make thedeafe Adder
and theolde Serpent burftin
pieces. Search we there 5 & ap-
ply we the fpeciall promifes &
confolations for our particular
Cafe,Gen.3.i 5. P£ 91. ir, n,
13. Joh. 16.33. 1 Joh. 3.8. Mar.
16.17. Rom. 1 6.20. 1 Cor. 10.
1 3. Jam.4.7. 1 Pet. 5.9. But we
muft takeheedeof profaning
Scripture names, phrafes, ana
fragments 5 as Witches them-
felvesdo^in their moft execra-
ble witchcrafts. Or of fetting
apart certaine incompetent,
and in-concerning verfes for
Charms,
Concerning Witches > &c 15 5
Charms , as the Papifts do and
teach. 6. The Prayers of the
Church or Congregation ? for
they avayle exceedingly ma-
ny manner of Infinity, Jam.
5,14 15. 7- Thankfgivingto
God for his fpeciall provi^
dence^ Bleffing and prayfing
him for his own protection, £k
Angells administration. 8. A
keeping us within our owne
Callings, fo fhal the Devil find
us, neither idle, nor ill occupi-
ed j fo fliall occafion be avoy-
ded either for hi m to tempt us,
or we him. 9. A juft contempt
of the Devill , and of all his
praeftigious Arts andf Inftru-
ments, Jer. io. 2. as not to bee
fecure, fo aot to fcare, for the
H % Devill
iff 4 Cajes &f Confcience
Devill is a falfe fpirk, & fmiles
in fayning a yieldance to a
fond preemption ; Butheesa
proud one too D and therefor
cannot be more vex t and trou-
bled then at a ;uft & true Con-
tempt,
so Cafe. TFkether it be lawfull to con-
[ult with a Witch s upon any occafun?
A L confuking properly im-
plies:, as if one would now
be informed by another., of
what he would know, or Ad-
vifed what he fliould doe: Ei-
ther of which are very impro-
perly fought for at a witches
hand ? that indeed knows nei-
ther trath^nor right^and in ex-
prefs oppofition to whomGod
lias been pleafed to appoint
Concermng Witches^ &c. i<>5
for his a far better Counfellor
in that Cafe 5 Efa.8. 19.20. Ne~
neverthelefe, ho w madly have
fuperftitious arid profane peo-
pie alwayes runne upon their
devices to be here advifed.
1 Gen. 41.8. i Sam. 28.7. 2 King.
1.2. Dan. 2.2. Albeit God hatlx
utterly prohibited and con-
demned it 5 Levi. 1 9.3 1. and 20.
> 6.Deu.i8.i4.And that the old
Ecclefiafticall Cenfures have
been the fame againft all fach
confultation^as againft witch-
1 eraft it felfe. And that feme
Civil! or Politique Laws ha ve-
I decreed Death to the Con-
fultor equally as to the Witch,
And that it hath been the
1 Common obfervation of all
people:-.
f t 5 6 Cafes ef Confcience
People., that none have ever '
thriven after fo tempting an
Attempt. And that the fame
Judgments of God are yet in
force againft al fuch as hereto-
fore. 2.King. 1.4. 1 Chron. 10.
13*
Upon thefe many Confide
rations 1 conclude, that al-
thoug one way is more dam-
nable., yet there is danger in
Confulting every kind of way.
Whether out of Curiofitie^or
for Exploration fake 3 aswel
as out of fuperftition. 1. If
out of Curiolity onely to fee
andhere.and tel what a witch
or wizzard can lay or doe.
This is out of any mans calling
f>r Commifliot^and fo 61s ua~
! Concerning Whche^&c. 15 7
der a tempting of God 2. If
for Exploration (ake , fo as to
l Examine and difcover the
1 Witch. Herein ( though the
y Authority may be granted
i for fafe and good ) yet fpeciall
heed is to be had, either of ad-
* juring, or yet of alluring the
J. Divell or the Witch. Forto
n adjure a Witch, if it be done
\i by way of humane obteftati-
| on and Intreaty 5 then is it pal-
ot pable conful tingr or if it be
i done by way of divine At-
I teftation ( charging and chal-
ce lenging in the name of God)
± what elfe is it then, but that
i we call Exorcizing ? And
[| likewife to Allure the Witch
j. to do any ASt of Witchcraft
j* (through
L
158 Cafes ofConf :ience
(through difguife, diflimula-
tion, fay re words, promife^
or any other pretext) yea al-
though it be with intent to
defcry or make difcovery 5 yet*
even this is to do evill that
good may come thereof. And
therefore the Witch of Endor
juftly exclaiimes againft the
injuftice and Treachery of
fuchan Inticement^ although
it might have beene to fuch an
intent, 1 Sam. 28.9.12. Now
then this it is, to enquire
here over familiarly ifiay bee
to allure : To charge over
highly is to adjure : but only
to interrogate Rationally and
I egally 5 this is fafely and
f ufficiently to explore.
3. But
Concerning Witches^&c. 1 5^
& But the damnable con-
1 fultingof all is, if out of Su-
perftition; to be informed of
! what is Future, Abfent, Loft^
; or to bee holpen againft any
lf ftrange handling whatfoe-
I ever. For here is the lame
- Faith that is in the Witches
• operation and confederacies
and (atleaft) a mediate af-
i fenting and joyning fociety
with the Devill. And a yeel-
* ding or acknowledging the
I Devill to bee the Author of
i helper which ftandeth in the
; Name of the Lord our God a-
lone. Oh ! that people would
i bee perfwaded of it $ then
! fhould we not heare fb many
fond Qbje&ions 9 whereby
i6q Caferof Conference
they feek to juftifie them-
felves, and to evade all that
can be faid againfl: them. But
marke how little all they can
fay for themfelves availes
them : we will number their
Obje&ions , and fet our An-
fwer to them , not onely to
refute, btit inftradthem.
i. I went for my ownefa-
tisfa&ion, and at my own haz-
zard, and what has any body
to do with it? Yes, the Church
has to doe with it, and cenfure
it, as inconfiftent with her
communion, 2 Cor.6. 15. The
State hath to doe with it r and
punifli it, as enemy to the So-
ciety thereof. For the Diabo-
Hcall afibdating muft needes
be
Concerning Win hes> &c. i 6 *
j e k be adverfary to the Humane.
e * Nay, and every private Chri-
le f • i ftian hath to doe with it , to
% complaine of the grievous
l .H fcandall thereof , and require
fadsfa&ion.
°wj 2. It was not a Witch that
HP I went to , but a Wizzard , a
*H Wife man 3 or a Wife woman,
ffd as they call them. All Witches
mk are not of one kinder and fe-
\]U verall kindes are not of fe ve-
in verall Natures : neither doth
yak Variety of degrees varie the
tl ! kindes or natures. Things may
jjif be of the fame brood or Litter,
jtj though unlike one another ;
and every one not fo like the
ijir Damme.
$ 3-It was neither Witch nor
I Wizzard.
1 62 Cafes of Confcience
Wizzardjbut a Jugling Impo.
fky. But thou wenteftas t&£
Witch indeed.Thc delufivee-
vent, exeufes not the delufion
of thy intention.
4. I went to none but a
good Witch. Who evercalda
Witch good 5 but bad men?and
if the Devil were called good,
wouldft thou therefore p-oe to
f) 5- Imeantnobodyhurtm
it. A good meaning Will not
Warrant theufeof illmeanes.
^ 6. It was not I that went,
but my wife , childe, fcrvant.
Nomorewas itAhaziah, but
his wife, 2 Kings 1. Askehut
% confcience, if thy heart
went not along with them, ei-
ther
Concerning Wiicbes^c 1 65
ther in the command or con-
fent.
7. I medled with none
of their witcheries, &c. Thy
faith or perfwafion to be fa-
tisfi'd and refolv'd in the Bufi-
neffe thou went'ft about, was
enough to mingle thee with
the Witch in her confederacy.
Nay.thou waft the very caufe
of that Aft of Witchery that
was now pra&ifed for thy
fake,and upon thy occafion.
8. I faw nothing, I found
nothing but good. All good
is to bee fufpe&ed that comes
from the Devill 5 who never
did any thing like to good,but
for the greater ill.
9. I was told nothing but
1^4 Cafes of Conference
Truth. The Devil! is a Lyar
of himfelfc , and never told
Truth, but to deceive. Some
light Truth peradventure.and
that either forcibly, or againft
his Will 5 or fortuitoufly and
without his knowledge * or
falfely to deceive thee in a
greater Truth, and others
With greater Lyes. Hee that
looks to heare Truth from the
Bevifl, may foon hear it to his
, as did San), i Sam*
28.1$.
10, I went but to fee if f
tmght bee inform'd or finde
what I had loft. What was all
thatloffe, to the loffe of thy
Credit and Confcience ? Nay,
notonelylofle of peace with-
in
Concerning IVitcbes&c 1 6
in thy felfe, and of Reputati-
on with wile men : But of Re-
port with good men 5 &of fa-
vour with God.What if thou
had'ft not found ? then was
thy labour and hopes loft to
all the reft. Say thou didd'ft
finde 5 it comming by the De-
1 vills meanes 3 comes with Gods
Curfe. Thus is it loft though
found. Nay% and ( in thy
fenfe) fliall be loft againe, For
(befides that God blowes up-;
on it ) the Devill ( fince thou
art fo ready to feek after him)
will be ready the fecond time
to bereave thee either of that 3
or as much as that comes to,
thatfo he may make thee feek
^ ftim agabe.Thus (halt thou
i66\ Concerning TFikhes^&c,
be continually the lofer 5 and
the Devill the Gainer : where-
as hadd'ft thou either defpifed
thy lode, or defpifed this way
of finding it, thy lofTe had not
onely reited there 5 but thou
hadft beene a great Gainer by
Gods grace and bieffing.
11. What would you have
me doe ) I could not endure
to fee the poore Thing fo
ftrangely handled ? but leek
out fome remedy for it 5 and
nobody could tell what dif-
eafeitwas 5 all Phyfick would
doe it no good., &c. Beeaufe
ordinary ineanes failed 5 was
God therefore to bee defertecL
and his greateft enemy addrerf
ttnto?But that I am r^folv'd *o
—
Iff
Cafes of Conference 1 67
{peak Englifh only in this Epi-
tome .* I could further reply,
out of an Ancient Fathers
owne words to one that had
procured a Charme to cure his
Child, and obje&ing , What,
would you have it perifh >:
Yea, let it perifh - 0 better it pe-
rifh thai thou ; it temporally^
then thou eternally. What
fhould I tell of Chriftians that
have refufed to touch , take
up, or once remove a Witches
Charm, Spell, Signer no not
for their owne prefent Cure ?
Nay, and of very Heathens
that have derided and reje&ed
all fuch remedies ?
ia v I didit onely in anlni-
*nour 3 becaufe I had a mind,or
Fancy
1 6% Cafes of Conference
Fancy to know mine owne
Fate or Fortune, 6cc. Becaufe
this is indeed the Fancy and
Humour of too many : Let
them hear what I fay now un-
to thenyn fundry confederati-
ons, i. So did Saul, and heard
his deftiny to his utter de-
J>aire,iSam.28a9 5 2o- 2. All
future things are referved in
Gods owne knowledge and
power 5 and therefore folely
to be referred to him. 3. Who
(of men or Angels) have been
bis Counfellors to be ordina-
rily acquainted with any fuch
myfteries ?
4. For a man to bee fore-
acquainted with his own For-
tune 5 though it were expedi-
Concerning Witches^ &c. 1 6f
I cnt 5 yet is it not lawfiill : And
i though it were lawfully yet if
I it not expedient. For if good
I things be prefaged to him 3 and
t they falfe^ that makes him mi-
tt ferable in a fruftrated hope :
a If bad things 3 and yet falfe 3
i that makes him miferable in a
j needlefle feare : If bad things
It and true 5 they make a man mi-
i ferable in his owne apprehend
ji fion 5 before he is fo in him-
| felfe. If good things and true,,
]f yet the long Expedation both
§} crucifies and takes off the edge
{i of Delight in their Fruition.
5. When did ever any Diabo-
licall Prediftions want their
Ambiguities or Equivocate
j on? For To fallaciotifly doth
V 1 the
ijo Cafes of Confidence
the Devill ufe to frame his 0-
racks, as that they may ftand
good with either event; to the
end we may be either way de-
ceived^and yet he neither way
thought to deceive. 6. Is there
any certainty of their fore-tel-
ling things future, that are ig.
norant of what ispaftorpre.
ient } or how can they tell
what (hall betide another 3 that
are not aware of what may be-
fall themfelves ? 7. Have not
the fager Heathens derided all
Aftronbmicall, Genethliacali,
Phyfiogtiomicall Prefagesand
Predi&ions 5 and are they
things to be believ'd byChri-
ftians >
8. He that will ea%'bdferc
the
Concerning Witches ^ &c. xjx
the Devil I upon his Wordxaa
J hardly have any right faith of
j| God in his Promifes : For cre-
. dulity to Satan 3 is to God-
J ward infidelity. 9. One that
J is here over anxioufly 5 or curi-
j. oufly mquifltive, as he hath
J much of the Infidelity of an
j. Atheift : Co not a little of the
, Carnility of an Epicure. For
J 'tis a manifeft Token he both
j [pves 3 andlikewifefearcshim-
fdfe too much as touching the
Body oxid prefent Being.
U. Cafe. What funijhments are Wit-
ches worthy ofror m^juftlj be infii-
fad on them.
^ Wat Witdies arc to be pu-
i| niflied is the Law and
I 2 fentence
rj2 Cafes of C&nicienw
fenteno? of Nature j iRcafori^
Policie and Religion. Nature
fayes fo 0 becaufe they abufe
her order ; Reafon faysfo 5 be-
caufe they change herdi&ates
for, delufioix : Policy fayes fo,
becaufe they difturb her peace:
and Religion fayes fo 3 becaufe
they pervert her power.Hehce
fcave proceeded all thofe bitter
inveftives of Heathen 8c uieer
natural! men^all thofe folid ir-
Tefutatioiis of Learned men &
Philofophe*s$ all t hofe fetere
Edifts of Princes and Magi-
ftrates 5 and all thofe foarpc
cenfores of the Church againft
thfcm,
To pronounce fmtp#
therefore in a word 5 a Witch,
(a real!
(a real! fanke Witch) is wor-
thy of all pocnalty that can ci-
ther be inflifted or imagined.
More then Temporal 5 Spiritu-
all and Eternall punifhment
cannot be devifed; and al thefe
are here deferved.
1. Spirituall punifliment^-
ven the heavyeft Anathema 3
or greateft Excommunication,
Detit,i8.io. Ezek.12.24. Mic.
5, 1 2, John 12.31. 1 Cor. 1 0,20.
2 Cor .6. 14, 1 5^6. And great }
xeafon that Witches .fliouldi
firftbe fpiritually or Ecclefia- 1
ftically puniflied ? 1. Becaufel
the fin of a Witch is (formally
Confidered) ameere fpirituall'
fin. 2. Witches primely abne- |
gate and abjure the Churches
I 3 Faith
€ a f €S of Conference
Faith and fellowship : And
therefore Ihould firfi: of all bee
eaft out of their Communion.
%r Tt is juft Talion to deliver
fitch up to Satan that have al-
ready given themfelves unto
him.
2. Temporal! punifhment,
Exod.22.1 8. Levit.20.27. And
the reafons are, 1 . Beeaufe the
Fad and Effects of witch-craft
are Externall 3 anddifturbing
the Civill peace. 2. Witches
in joyning Confederacy with
the Devill become proreft E-
nemies to all true humane fo*
ciety, and therefore deferveto
be cut off from it. 3 . Their to-
leration is pernicious both to
Church and State 3 not only
Concerning Witcbes 0 &t. 175
in regard of their Maleficia-
I ting mifchiefes , but alfo of
* Gods judgments, Ife.47. 9. 1 2.
I Nahum 5. 4, 2 Kings 23. 26.
i Conferred with 2 Ring. 21. 6.
I 4. Becaufe the longer Witches
ke fufFered to live, theworfe
I they are, not ondy do morse
I mifchiefe to others , but grow
h more wicked within them-
I felves. Humane mercy will ne-
| ver amend them q nor the De-
| yil never forfake them til they
I fall under the Magiftrates
I hand, and if ever they repent
$t , it is then, or not at all.
j|| 3. Eternal punifhmen£>Rre
I 21. 8. and 22. 15. And there's
J Reafon for that too. 1 .It is juft
t( | that they who utterly deny
I ± God
3^6 C dfes ofConjcienie
God fliould be utterly denycd
ofhim. 2. That they who give
themfelves to the Devi]]., and
worlhip him § flhould goe to
him 0 and receive their reward.
But themaineof the Cafe is
touching Civill poenalty. And
if you ask what particular pu-
nifliment is to bee infMed >
The Scripture faith ftoning,
Levit,2a27. Authors in their
Stones likewife ftore us with
Lawes and Prefidents of their
hanging j heading, burning,
drowning 9 fleaing off their
fikinnes 5 breaking upon the
wheel, cafting down headlong
from fteepe hills and Roekes,
cutting theirh troats 5 preffing 9
racking, beating with ftripes,
braining*
Concerning Witches> &c* ijf
braining with clubbs, banifti-
ment 5 imprifonmet 5 de^adati-
onjprivation of office^forfeitur
of eftate 3 &c. .Thus thougk
they no punifhment enough
for Witches. All which Infii-
ftions 5 W itches (abfolute wit-
ches) may be well worthy o£
But God forbid they fhould be
thus punifhed for Witches }
that indeed are no Witches.
For fo Innocent blood may be
brought upon a Land. Yet I
%eak not this, as if feme who
arielmppftors only^or but cou~
feit Witches (as Juglers, Gyp-
fie^fortune-tellers/igure-ca-
%fs: 3 , Wizards s .Conjurers^
(^laa)at^ of ^ativities^with
felfeproplaets and r Prognofti-
■ I 5 eators*
ty$ Cajes of Confcience
cators 5 that prefume to pre.
fage what Changes flhall be ei-
ther in Church or State^fhould
be unpunifhed. But that true
knd reall Witches fliould bee
truly and really punifhed, to
true and real intents. And that
Magiftratesand men in place^
may wifely and juftly prefer ve
ana difcharge a good confci-
ence, and do no otherwffe(in
this Cafe) then as Jofiafi did^
i King. 23.24. Where note, 1.
His wifedome in difeerning}
They were fpyed out in the
Hand : A word noting perfpe-
ftion, and circumfpe&ion^and
that both of the mind and
fes., Shewing howbpth th^in-
tcM and external!
Concerning Witches^ e «
of difcemkig ftdtild i^ei^,
ployed ,and wfexghiiig both the
Abftrufe Mylterie 5 and more
palpable materiall Cireum-
itances thereof. 2. His Integri-
ty or lineerity. That hejmight
perform the words of the hw y
&c. Looking at nothing more
then the honour of God, the
juftice of the Law, theTrueth
of the Churchy andthepetfefe
of the Common- Wealth. But
to take heed of doing (in fueh
a Cafe) as ^»/did > i Sam. 28,
3. who may well be deemeel
now to have done al linifterlyj^
i. Eecaufe if the Intention of
leart had been right to cut
6ff; thMidoubtldle &ad
*t not bee& fojfocta diipofei i% ,
tSo Cafes of Conference -
confult with them. 2. It is (ur-
mized hee lookt onefy at his
owne private fufferance by
fuch 5 1 Sam. 16.14. anc * not at
the Lawof GoDor publique
good. 3. The Jewifli Rabbines
lay that hee did it envioufly.
Becaufe the Diviners alfo
foretold of his Ejeftion from
the Kingdome, and of Davids
Eleftion therunto. And fome-
thing is obfervable to fuch a
purpofe 3 m that Samuels death,
and the Witches execution
are mentioned both together.
Noting hee forbare to execute
his malice upon them while
Samuel livcl Becaufe Samuel
( a Prophet of the Lord ) had
alfo foretold the feme. 4.Some
learned
Concerning Witcbe$}&c. i8
learned Proteftants are of opi-
nion that under pretext of'
Witches Saul now flew the
Gibeonites 5 for which the
judgment followed, 2Sam.2 i.
i . Neither indeed want we th§
ftoryed Examples ofOoDs
Judgements upon thofe that
defamed, profecuted, and ex-
ecuted them for Witches^that
indeed were none.
Wherefore I make bold to
propofe here thefe Cautionary
Quseries to bee confidered 5 i.
Whether all kinds of Witches
a*e to bee pun iftied with one
kind of puniftimet? And here-
to I anfwer vulgarly at fi r ft
hearmg^God forbid. And doe
eonfeffe further • that I have
read
i$2 €afes of Confidence
read divers Laws cited for di-
versdegrees of Maids & po^
nalties. Whereto I may adde
alfo our owne Statute Law in
that behalf wherin(in my poor
judgment) feverall kindes and
meafures of poenalties are well
Ena&ed again ft feveral kinds
and degrees of Witches. And I
could wifh with all my hearty
that in the execution it were
but fo ftriftly obferved j as in
the Law itfelfe is wifely pro-
vided.
f 2. Whether a Witch h to be
puniflbed capitally for the Pa&
orfortheFaft of witchcraft ?
I know fome(both Papifts and
Proteftants) that ard eager for
dgndimcimg upon the Paft a-
lone
Concerning Witcbes^&c* 183
lone % withoiatany Fad done*
And would have Witches cut!
off ( as men kill Serpents ) be-i
fore they have once ftung or
poyfon'dany. But ^unde#cor^
rection of better judgments)!
am bold alfb to pronounce my
opinion. That although the
meere Pad bee mortall before
God : yet neither the Pad
without the Fad, nor the Fad:
without the Pad j is to be Ca-
pitall before men. 1 . Not the
Pad without the Fad. For fo
it is not onely a meer fpirituall
finne 3 a meer finne of thought^
but may be a meer Dreame or
Delufion. Neither do I beleire
there was ever in any a real!
pad 3 without a ieall Fa& For
the
184 Gafe s ofC onf :ience
the Devill does not now Con-
federate for nothings nor will
heefuffer his Affociate to be
idle. Neither is the Covenant,
but for the Arts fake^ nor the
Art, but for the Pradife. Nei-
ther yet can a Pad be well fuf-
peded , or prooved but by
lorne kind of Fad, The W itch
f Endor , 1 Sam, 2 8. was fo
Notorioufly known to bee a
Faded Witch, that Sauls Ser-
rantscould te]l him of her, at
firft a iking, and of the Fami.li*
ar Spirit ftiee had, verf./^yet
does (bee onely plead again ft
Saul, for alluring her to the
Fad, and fo fubjeding her to
the pe&alty of the Law, 18®$
whish plainly declares that
Concerning Witches^ &c. i85
the Ador pleaded and the
Guilty apprehended their Ob-
noxioufnes to the penalty of
that Law from the Fact,
and not from the Pad alone.
2. Not for the Fad, without
the Pad. For then it is to bee
conceived and Cenfured as the
Effed of fome other finne or
Crime, and not formally of
Witchcraft . A parent ( like
as Witches ufe)curfes his
Child, and God fayes Amen
to it. Hereupon- the Child is
obfeffed, or ftrangely handled
(peradventur perifbes, a tkmg
of two commoo "Example)
But what? muft the Parent
hang for the Malefice > nojan'd
why > Becaufe here is hndf
the
,S6 Cafes of Confcieme
the Fad or Ejffed without tht
Pa&.
3. Whether the Implieite
Compa&be lyable to the like
poenalty as the Explicite } An
Implieite Covenant is folely in
the Faith and affent 5 .now pro-
digious Effc&s may follow
without any other Familiari-
ty. And whether Familiarity
fo far forth as invifible Faith
& Aflentj be Felony , it is not
in me to determine. Only I de-
fire to be fatiffyed what diffe-
rence is between this 5 andthe
Faith and Affent in every
deeply malitious finne? For
that likewife Implicitly makes
a malignant Covenant with
the Devill.Efa.28. 1 5. Mec
thinkes
Concerning Witches^&c- 187
thinkes there fhould bee fome
Differences made betweene
them^ and t hat very Demon-
ftratively. I have labored to
Excogitate them i but finde it
Difficult to fet them fo really
Difparate and diftinft as I
would 5 in Aftedion^ Intention
Operation. For to me there
appears in all fomething of the
fame Corruption. And this
very difficulty tells my Gon-
fcience what a wary difcer-
ning ihould here be for Cen*
fure and Peenalty. Neverthe-
leffe I do not judg thofe ? that
fliali proceed to judge theni,
upon a clearer diftingui&iftg
and dilcerning.
4. Whether one addicted to
the
i'S8 C afes ofConfcience
the <^>eculative way onely
ought to incwre the fame pe-
nalty with the operative Wit-
ches ? I am not of thofe that
contend for the lawfulnefle of
Magical fcience.£ecaufe I can-
not reach ( in my judgement )
to conceivc 5 how it can be pre-
feved(by fuch as wade too far
into it) in the pure Naturalls i
but muft needs (what through
Ignorance or Arrogance ) bee
polluted and deprav'd with
iomekind of delufions diabo-
Jicall. Notwithftanding doe I
not reprove theknowledge of
thefe things altogether. Left I
might reprove Mofes and Da-
rnel, A&s 7. 22. Daniel, 17.
20* Who knew them not to
ufe
1 ■>ConmningtP r itcbes&c. 18P
ife$f pra&ife them % But to
detect 3 and refute them : or
knew them to the perfe&ion
of the underftanding 5 not to
the depravation of the Wilh
Yet doe I thinke thofe worthy
to bee reprehended that fhall
aflfeft^ commend or promote
thir ftudie v (A ftudie as the
moft difficult L fo the moft
tfffelefle) yea and to be cenfu-
fed too. But neverthelefle not
like the Operative that have
hereby wrought mifchiefe or
dflfence to the difturbance of
peace an&tratlyn the Church
and State. Unlefle laying a-
fide all Scrutiny and Con-
ten^latton as touching the
Mirahles of Nature^ their Spe-
culation
tg o Concerning TFitcbes^&c.
Speculation be of Piabolicall
Magickeonly : in Contempla-
ting and mufing of ( I cannot
tell what) Compatf, Conven-
ticles, Rites, Sacrifices, Invo-
cations,, Conjuratios, Charms,
Spells, Chara&ers, Figures,
Circles,Barbarifmes of word*,
Prodigies of F?ft , &c. Admi^
ring, adoring^boaffiqg, com-
mending, teaching, &c. Thefe
(as Matters and Profeflbrs in
witchcrafts) I thinke worthy
mpft puiiifement of all.
Sr Whether a Paffive witch
faetobepuniflied by the Law
as well as an Aftive > How^x-
treame were.it therfore to fuf*
ferfrom men^becaufe theyfuf-
fer from the Deyil?Can his ex-
cruciation
Cafes ofC onfcienee 191
crutiation be a fufficient Caufe
for our Execution? I conceive
the meerly paffive therefore
are here to be exempted. Be-
caufe though the Devil works
by them 0 yet it is without
them 3 yea & oft times againft
them. Nevertheleflethemixt-
ly paffive 5 may be diftingui-
med from thofe who are lefle
to be pitied or fpared becaufe
though they may now be fom-
what paffive ? and the ©evill
( as it were ) forcing them to
malefice or mifchiefq yet they
firft wereA&ive^ and freely
gave their confent fo to do.
6. Whether a Witches own
Confeffion bee fufficient to
hang he? ? I cannot fee (in the
maine)
r?2 6*fes of Conscience
maine) but a Witch may bes
condemned out of her owne
mouth as well as any other
Malefa&or. For her owne
mouth can fpeake her owne
guilt beft 5 and may not amifle
be taken for a right difcovery
of her own Confcience. Nor
doth her Sexe any whit inva-
lidher own tefthnonie againft
herfelf. Neverthelefs it would
be wel confidered whether fhe
was forced to it 5 terrified 9 al-
lured 5 or otherwise deluded.
And withal 1 5 if in her owne
mind and perfect fenfes ; If riot
out of (bme Melancholy hu-
mour ordifconte:. ;ment v/cr-
kingtoiayanytliiijg through
tedioufneiieoflife$ If herRe-
' ccUe&i
Concerning Witches, &c. 1^5
colle&ion or recantation may
not ftand with more probabi-
lity if they be not meer impof-
Abilities whereof not a Cir-
cumftance tending to fach a
matter 3 can bee made to ap-
pear. But it matters not much 5
though ftieetalke of never fo
many monftrous or ridiculous
Delulions or abfarditie^ ( for
theDeviils Adions ^re now to
be admitted for no lefie) if fo
be fome Reality of depraved
AfFe&ions 9 Intentions^ orEf-
0 fefts m ay ba obfer ved therein.
7-WhetheraIury may with
L a fafe Confcicnce give up their
0 Verdid in finding fuch or fach
j an one for a witch? Doubtles
j it may be done. For, whatfo-
v u ever finne or Crime is punifh-
K able
IP4 Ca\c$ of Conference
able before men 5 is alio Con-
vincibl* by men. Gtherwife
all Lawes again ft them were
to no EfFeft. For the Law is
not to be Executed before the
Sentence bee pronounced $
nor ought that to be before
Convi&ion. Neither is it re-
quifite that fo palpable Evi-
dence for Conviftion fhould
here come in 5 as in other more
fenfible matters.lt is enough if
there be but fo much Circum-
ftantiall proofeor evidence $
as the Subftance 5 matter., and
Nature offuch an Abftrufe
myftery of Iniquitie will well
admit. But withall I could
wifh that thefe Twelve good
mm and True, were not Im-
pann elled
Concerning Witches, &c. 195
pannelledof ordinary Coun-
try People: but of the moffc
Eminent Phyfitians, Lawyers
and Divines, that a Country
could afford.
8 What if there be no fuch
maine Evidence againft Wit-
ches$ Are they therefore to be
Tolerated or to Efcape? Some
are of opinion that a ftrong
Prefumption is enough to cut
them off: but that were a ftrog
Prefumption indeed 5 others,
* that it is good to hang the out
) jn of the way however for terror
% and Examples fake: A terrible
1* thing indeed, to make them
w. Examples in the Punifhrnent
f that are not yet fully found to
Examples in the offence.
F K 2 Others
1 9 6 Cafes of Conf :ience
Others would have it done
and it be but for their repen-
tance and Converfion. Be-
came ( fay they ) Witches will
never thinke of Repenting
till they come to the Gallowes.
Were it fo, it were then hap-
py for the Wretches;But fay it
were fo 5 Gods mercy excufes
not mans Injuftice, but aggra-
vates it. In my mind therefore
this is fafeft, and fatiffaftory 5
where God hath denyed man
full evidence, it is not for mans
luftice to fall to Execution of
vengeance : Nor is that to be
called Tolleration where Con-
viction is wanting.This is plain
in more fenfible Cafes (as of
Murthcr, Theft &c.) where
Concerning Witches^&c. 1 97
the Law proceeds not (though
up5 never foftrong Praut op-
tions) for want of Plenary and
particular Evidence^ and why
not here ftth it is a Matter more
occult ? And if it remiynes fo
occult, as not to come within a
Legal con vi£rion:> it is a llgne
Cod hath referved fuch for his
owne Iuftice and Vengeance
which all their devillilh Da
neflelhall not be able to elude.,
Malac^. ^.Hee will draw neare
to their Iudgment though they
think them (elves never fo far
from mans, lie willbeafwift
Witnefie againft them, when
nians is either flow or ineffici-
ent.
K 2 12. Cafe
jp8 Cafes of Confcieme
12 Cafe. Whether a Witch may re-
f entrant! [o be \aved?
1 know the Churches of old
have been fo Charitable 5 as to
fuppofe their Con verfion : and
to that purpofe, have (in feve-
rall Cafes ) propofed their
penance- And I read in Story
of the Notable Repentance of
certaine Pope Witches^ with
the miraculous fignes of their
falvation. And have heard the
Tradition, how the Devill has
been forest to caft up and Can-
cell fome fuch pa&ing Inden-
tures, though written with the
Partyes owne Blood, I will
conceive withall, that Witch-
es have as great Caufeas may
be to recant them of their bar-
CmccmingJVitches^&c \0
gaine, and Labour to returne.
Becaufe they have made a Co-
venant with one 5 that ( on his
part) never intended to per-
forme the leaft Tittle promi-
l fed I otherwise then praeftigi-
oufly. They ferve a hard Ma-
fter,that hates them according
to an irreconcileable Enmity,
Gen. 3. 1 5. notwithffanding
all the pretended Familiarity:
and not onely fo, but renders
them hateful! both to God, &
Men. That infefts their habi-
tation night, & day; torments
them fleeping and wakingtfer-
rifies them with gaftly fights ,
8c hideous founds^makes them
familiar to the moft loathfome
Creatures, wherein areTeaft
K 4 foote-
2Bo Cafes of Conscience
footefteps of the Creator to
be perceived. Haunts them
continually, to be ftill \m ploy-
ing their Traps about oneMit
ehiefe or another ; and will not
fufFer ( would a Witch be fo
good ) to remove the evill
done to any one, but by trans-
ferring it upon fome otheryor
elfe threatens to inflift it upon
them felves. Keeps them al-
wayes poore, leane 3 naked,dif-
eafed 5 difcontented 5 and de-
ludes them utterly in their
moft Imaginary pleafures and
Contentments. If they chance
to fteale any thing after a pro-
digious manner 0 he ftraight-
wayesas praftigioufly conveys
it from them againe 3 or fo in-
fers
€oncerning Witcbes y &c. 201
fe&s it that it is nothing ufefull
to them . And after once whol-
ly his feekes to betray them to
Temporal! Iuftice, that fo he
may the foonerget them into
his infernall Poileffion^and
this he is the more eager upon,
left peradventure having wea-
ryed themfelves in this way of
wickednes it might come into
their minds to repent them at
length. And thus we have the
Devill alfo fearing their re-
pentance^and by that it ihould
feeme there is lbme hopes of
them. There would be more
hope if wee could heare God
promifing and promoving it.
But God hath univerfally de-
clared himfelfe for their dam-
Bation*
202 Cafes of Conscience
nation. Malac.3. 5. Revel. 2 t.8.
and 22. 1 5. And iris fafefta!-'
wayes to judge after his Sen-
tence. Wherefore though wit-
ches may have foroe fleflder
thoughts and wifhes for CnUi-
tion,ashad Balaam,Numb.24.
10. Yet I cannot but thinkeit
a rare thing ftillfor Magitians
to come and worihip Chrift.
Mat.2.i 5 2.
As to the Cafe therefore; to
% that of Witches, Some may
Convert and be faved; fome
cannot Convert, but ftall bee
Damned. This were to leave
the Cafe as Indefinite, as I
found it. For lefiethen fo can-
not be determined concerning
the leaft of fins. Give me leave
therefore
Concerning Witches 3 &c. 2 03
therefore to declare the Incre-
ment of my Conference both
fomewhat more determinately
and diftinctly. viz. That the
Arted Paffiveand (imply De-
luded Witch may repent and
be faved:But the folemnly Pa-
rted, malitioufly A#ive 5 and
utterly Apoftate Witch nei-
ther can, nor will, nor {hall.
The Arted Witches, Aft. 19.13
Converted and fo were favecl
For the word of God prevai-
led to that Purpofe. verf 20.
Y ea they beleved and Chewed
their Deeds, verf.i 8. But Si-
mon Magus though heeufed
the meanes of Salvation £hee
beleeved, wondred and was
Baptized. A6t8.i3.) Yet ne-
ther
2C4 Cafes of Conference
ther hadhee part nor lot in
the matter of Salification or
Salvation, ver. 2i.yea,though
the Apoftle puts a perad ven-
ture upon his Repentance,
Prayer, Reniiffion^ yet is hee
peremptory upon his Repro-
bation, verf.22.23. And all is
becaufeofthe Diabolicall and
Indiffoluble Pad the Bond of
Iniquity. So the DamfelJ, Aft.
1 6. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8. A meerly paffive
Witch ( whofe Divination or
Soothfaying was forced tho-
rowa Demoniacal Pofleffion)
was faved no doubt. Of which
her opportune Occurfion, her
Confeffion,her Application of
it, her perfeverance, with Sa-
tans Eje&ion out of her, are
fufficioat
Cafes of Conference 205
fufficient TeftimonieS But I
cannot fay fo much of Iezabel
and the witch of Endor 5 who
were malicious a&ive witches.
Manaffeh likewife (though
fome think hee was no Witch
himfelfe 5 but only a Confulter,
a Favourer and a promoter of
them ) yet ( led by the many
notable Expreffions, 2 Chr.39.
6.) I rather conceive he was a
very Witch. Nevertheleffe it is
faid he fought the Lord 5 and
prayed 0 and the Lord was en-
treated of him 3 verCi 2.15. But
he was no Apoftate Witch.For
it is not fpoken of him til after
his Conversion. He then knew
that the Lord he was God, v.
1 3. But Simon Magus and Elf-
mas
20$ Cafes of Confcience
mas the Sorcerer (two Apo-
ftate witches)who would have
hired the power of the holy
Spirit formoney, whomalici-
oully fought to pervert the
faith & truth of (Thrift. Thefe
therefore the Apoftles (Peter
and Paul ) denounce exprefly
for damned Reprobates, Act.
8,? 3. and 13.8,9,10.
. Jo conclude, when I (ha? be
inftrufted, of any one particu-
lar and fpeci fio ue fin , fo neare
to the finne againft the holy
Ghoft as this of W rchcraft:
Or that there is any other hlaf-
pheirsy more imputing the
Works of the Devil! to God,or
the workes of God to the De-
vil! : or fuch an Anti-chriftian
Myfterie
Concerning Witcbes&c. 207
Mifterie of Iniquity with lying
wonders, and ftrong delufions,
2 TheflT. 2. Or fuch a giving
heed to feducing fpirits and
do&rinesofDevills, iTim.4.
Or fuch a treading under foot
the Son of God, counting the
Blood of the Covenant a vaine
thing, and doing defpight un-
to the Spirit of grace, Heb. 10,
Or in very deed fuch a fin unto
death, 1 John 5. I fay, when I
fliall be inftrufted that the fin
of Witchcraft is not all this :
Or if there bee any other fpe~
cifjque particular finnefo like
to all this, as is the finne of
Witch-craft: Or to which
both the Scripture phrafes
and properties that Divines
make i
2 c8 ConcernirigWitQbesy&c.
make of the finne againftthc
Holy Ghoft j may bee more
aptly and fully apply xl, then
ihall I bee convi&ed in Con-
fcience to bee more remil|e in
my Judgement againft the Pa-
fted-Afiive-Apoftate Witch.
FINIS.
1
*
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11